Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Odisha Government has planned to upgrade the healthcare infrastructure across the State under the Emergency Covid Response Package (ECRP) because of the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the reports, the Phase II emergency package announced by the Centre aimed at strengthening diagnostics, telemedicine hubs, transportation of critical patients, setting up of Covid care centres and paediatric ICUs and oxygen supply.
The report further added that out of the Rs 23,123 crore package at the ratio of 60:40 funding pattern, Odisha will spend Rs 861.96 crore including the Central share of Rs 517.18 crore and State share of Rs 344.78 crore.
The Odisha government has planned to set up at least one RT-PCR laboratory at public health facility per district, liquid medical oxygen (LMO) with medical gas pipeline system at all district headquarters hospitals and additional ICU beds at existing ICUs.
Twenty-bed Covid care centres with pre-fabrication structures at selected CHCs and six-bed centres at selected PHCs will be set up. Each headquarters hospital will be provided with two Advanced Life Support Ambulances (ALS) while the sub-divisional hospitals and every block will get one each ALS.
Further Paediatric ICU will be set up at selected DHHS along with oxygen supported paediatric ward having a capacity of 20 to 30 beds. Also, it is decided to strengthen the telemedicine hub at DHHS and spokes at Covid care centres and dedicated Covid health centres.
Of the 39 pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen generating plants being set up through PM-Cares, seven have already been commissioned. While 19 more will be commissioned by end of this month, the rest 13 will be ready by August 15.
