Bhubaneswar: The health and family welfare department has decided to install LED boards at all state-run hospitals to help patients and their attendants get information on the state and central government health schemes.

The department has decided to begin pilot implementation at nine major health care institutions, including Capital Hospital. It will hire a private agency to install the boards and put information in after consulting the department.

At present, information related to health schemes are provided to people thorough banners and hoardings installed on campus.

"It would be better to provide information through digital boards since it will be easier and visible even at night. We have decided to begin pilot implementation before expanding it to other hospitals," said a health official.

As per the plan, the respective hospital authorities will identify suitable places inside the campuses for installation of digital display boards while the state institute of health and family welfare along with the National Health Mission will select the materials to be displayed on the boards.

"It is a good move. They should ensure that the information is provided in specific languages, including Odia. There has to be efforts to make people aware about different health issues," said social worker Alok Kar.

Capital Hospital director Chitta Ranjan Das said they have begun identifying locations to install the boards. "We had small monitors in our building to provide information on health schemes. However, not many are able to use those. The digital boards will help people on a larger scale."

The other health centres selected are the five medical colleges and hospitals in Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Koraput and Mayurbhanj, besides Puri District Headquarters Hospital, Acharya Harihar Cancer Research Centre and Sishu Bhavan in Cuttack.