The Odisha state government has approved Nirmal scheme that would provide various free ancillary services to people at all state-run hospitals.

The new scheme will make quality health services affordable for everyone. The health and family welfare department will set up clinics at government hospitals such as those for cancer detection, sterility, family welfare, child rehabilitation, child guidance and child welfare and immunisation.

Department officials will also strengthen the services at the facilities where the scheme is already available. "We have already set up centres for cancer detection and family welfare at different state-run hospitals. These will be upgraded as part of the new scheme," said a health and family welfare department official.

"We will start taking steps to procure equipment and put up the infrastructure at district headquarters hospitals under the scheme," he said, reported The Telegraph India.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced the scheme on April 7 on World Health Day following which health officials and National Health Mission activists swung into action to finalise the modalities for implementation of the scheme.

Sources said the clinics would be set up first at Capital Hospital. In later phases, the facilities will come up at district headquarters hospitals. "We are trying to improve health services at state-run hospitals and this is one of our initiatives," said another official.

The government has introduced a number of health care schemes, including provisions for free sanitary napkins to adolescent girls, free diagnostic services, free eye care and medicines.