Odisha appoints K. Srinath as health advisor

Renowned cardiologist and President of the Public Health Foundation of India K. Srinath Reddy was on Monday appointed as advisor to the Odisha government.

Reddy will advise the state government on implementation of ongoing health programmes in the state.

Reddy, who formerly headed the Department of Cardiology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), will get the status of a Cabinet Minister, said a statement from the Chief Minister's Office.

The state government move came after it drew flak from various quarters on several incidents, including the infamous Dana Majhi, who walked about 10 km with his wife's corpse on his shoulder after he was denied a hearse by the hospital in Kalahandi district last year.

Besides, the death of children due to malnutrition in Nagada and death of over 100 children due to Japanese Encephalitis in Malkangiri district exposed the poor health facilities in the state.

--IANS

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