Odisha Launches 24x7 Telemedicine Facility in Kalahandi to Serve 70 Remote Villages

Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Thursday inaugurated a 24x7 telemedicine facility at Vedanta Lanjigarh Hospital , aiming to improve healthcare access for people living in remote and tribal regions of Kalahandi district.

According to the state government and the company managing the facility, the initiative is expected to benefit more than 70,000 residents across nearly 70 villages in Kalahandi and adjoining areas, where access to specialist healthcare services remains limited due to difficult terrain and inadequate medical infrastructure.

Speaking at the inauguration, Mahaling described the facility as a “ meaningful step ” toward bridging the healthcare gap in rural Odisha. He said the service would ensure that people in far-flung villages can consult qualified doctors without travelling long distances to district headquarters or major cities.

The telemedicine centre has been established by Vedanta Limited at its hospital in Lanjigarh. Officials said the service will operate round the clock and connect patients with doctors and specialists through digital platforms, including video consultations and electronic medical records.

The telemedicine facility allows patients at local health centres and Vedanta Lanjigarh Hospital to consult doctors through video conferencing. Medical staff help share patients’ symptoms, reports, and vital details digitally with specialists, who can provide consultations, prescribe medicines, recommend tests, or refer serious cases for advanced treatment.

Officials said the service will particularly benefit tribal and rural communities by reducing long-distance travel for medical care and improving access to specialist healthcare in remote parts of Kalahandi district.