In a significant stride towards modernising healthcare in rural Odisha, the Nimapada Community Health Centre witnessed the inauguration of a state-of-the-art digital health kiosk, dubbed the Swayam Health ATM, on Wednesday.
The Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha, Smt. Pravati Parida launched the facility, marking a pivotal moment in the state’s primary healthcare landscape.
The Swayam Health ATM, established through a partnership with the private organisation Swayam, is designed to bridge the healthcare accessibility gap in underserved regions. This innovative kiosk offers over 100 essential diagnostic tests, delivering accurate and affordable results in real time.
From routine blood tests to advanced health screenings, the Health ATM ensures that residents of Nimapada and surrounding areas can access critical diagnostic services without the need to travel long distances to urban centres.
Speaking at the inauguration, Smt. Pravati Parida emphasised the transformative potential of the initiative. “This Health ATM is a game-changer for rural healthcare. It brings advanced diagnostics to the doorstep of our people, ensuring timely, cost-effective, and accurate health assessments. This is a new dawn for primary healthcare in Odisha,” she said. The Deputy Chief Minister also lauded the collaboration between the state government and Swayam, highlighting it as a model for public-private partnerships in healthcare.
The Health ATM operates with cutting-edge technology, allowing users to undergo a wide range of tests with minimal wait times. Patients can receive instant reports, enabling faster medical interventions and reducing the burden on traditional healthcare facilities.
The kiosk is user-friendly, equipped with intuitive interfaces, and supported by trained staff to assist those unfamiliar with digital systems. This initiative aligns with Odisha’s broader vision to integrate technology into healthcare, making services more inclusive and efficient.
Residents expressed their enthusiasm for the new facility. “Earlier, we had to travel to Bhubaneswar or Puri for even basic tests, which was both time-consuming and expensive. Now, with the Health ATM, we can get results quickly and affordably right here in Nimapada,” said a local farmer.
The launch of the Health ATM is expected to set a precedent for other community health centres across Odisha. Health officials present at the event noted that similar kiosks could soon be rolled out in other districts, further strengthening the state’s healthcare infrastructure. The initiative is also seen as a step towards achieving universal healthcare coverage by ensuring that even remote areas have access to quality diagnostics.
