Bhubaneswar, June 7: The state government will shortly introduce a toll free 24-hour medical assistance helpline. People would need to dial 104 to benefit from this service.

Odisha’s director of the National Rural Health Mission Rupa Mishra today said: “One has to ring up and seek assistance. The call centre will guide the caller on emergency measures and also ensure that a medical team, if required, reaches the spot and takes charge of the situation. Special emphasis will be given on the health care of children and pregnant women.”

Addressing the mission’s review meeting, Mishra said the state’s infant mortality rate stood at 53 and maternal mortality rate at 253.

Health secretary P.K. Mohapatra said: “Efforts are on to ensure free distribution of medicines at all health centres. Doctors failing to provide free medicines available with the health centres would be taken to task.”

He said free diagnostic service was being extended to most of the areas, including the tribal belt. All intensive care units at government-run hospitals and medical centres would be provided with power generators to meet the emergency cases.

The health secretary said the government had a proposal to appoint two persons at villages whose responsibility would be to inform the authorities about the people of their respective villages requiring immediate health assistance.

They — to be known as first responders — would supplement efforts of the government-appointed social health activist workers in rural areas.