OYO founder Ritesh Agarwal to build healthcare centres for underprivileged in Odisha

Ritesh Agarwal, Founder of OYO

Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO of OYO, announced the development of five healthcare centres in his home state of Odisha for the underprivileged over the next year. The centres will be handled by 'Last Mile Care,' a health-tech business that already operates 11 health centres in the country.

As per the press release, these centres' planned placement attempts to cover areas with limited access to healthcare facilities, bridging the gap between healthcare services and marginalised communities. The centres will use health-tech and hybrid care choices to provide high-quality and affordable healthcare in small towns. They will offer free doctor consultations for the first three months, as well as discounted medication and treatment for the first six months.

As part of this effort, the Ramesh and Bela Agarwal Healthcare Centre, the first one in Ritesh's hometown of Rayagada, was inaugurated by Shri Jagannath Saraka, the state minister for SC & ST Development, Minorities, and Backward Class Welfare and Law. The centre is named after his parents, the late Ramesh Agarwal and Bela Agarwal.

Preventive care, diagnostic services, primary healthcare services, minor sickness treatment, expert consultation, referral services, inexpensive medication, and digital health record capabilities are among the services to be provided at these centres. Additionally, every such centre will have a team of specialists in gynaecology, ophthalmologists and cardiologists. A pharmacy will also be available to provide patients with comprehensive healthcare options.

Speaking on the healthcare centres, Agarwal said, "As we navigate the ever-evolving healthcare landscape, collaboration between healthcare providers, tech innovators, policymakers and communities is paramount. By fostering an environment conducive to innovation and investing in initiatives such as these, we are doing our bit to ensure that quality medical services become accessible to everyone".

The operating partner Last Mile Care successfully runs 13 similar centres across India, including one in Tandipur village in Odisha, which was built in collaboration with OYO Care, OYO's CSR department. Rayagada's Ramesh and Bela Healthcare Centre is a larger facility with greater amenities and technical assistance.