Orissa high court seeks affidavit from state govt on installation of display boards under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission at SCBMCH

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has directed the Odisha government to file a comprehensive affidavit on the proposed installation of digital display boards at the six Niramaya Centres (Free Medicine counters) of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, aimed at streamlining medicine distribution and reducing waiting time for patients.Hearing the matter, a division bench comprising Justice K R Mohapatra and Justice V Narasingh reviewed the progress of the project, which forms part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.According to the state government, installation of digital display boards involves giving real time information regarding availability of medicines in Niramaya Centres within the hospital campus.During the hearing on May 7, appearing virtually, Health and Family Welfare department commissioner-cum-secretary Aswathy S. informed the court that the department had moved a proposal to the finance department seeking approval for outsourcing manpower to manage the digital display system.She said approval is awaited for engagement of two support associates for real-time updating of the display boards in line with the finance department memorandum issued on July 24, 2025.As submitted earlier by the health department the project involves several components, including procurement of hardware and engagement of manpower, requiring examination at multiple administrative levels and consultations with stakeholders.Additional secretary of the finance department K.C. Satapathy, also appearing through virtual mode, assured the bench that the proposal would be examined within 10 days and the decision communicated to the health department.Additional government advocate Debasis Nayak submitted that a detailed affidavit on the issue would be filed before the court shortly.The bench directed the state to place the affidavit on record within 10 days and fixed July 9, 2026, for the next hearing.The digital display board system has gained importance following the segregation of Niramaya medicine outlets at SCBMCH. The move was intended to ease congestion and enable patients to collect medicines from outlets located near the respective outpatient departments instead of moving across multiple centres.The state government informed the court that the project involves procurement of hardware and deployment of manpower, requiring consultations at different administrative levels and coordination with stakeholders.