Bhubaneswar, Aug 23: The Odisha government is preparing to launch a new digital health application aimed at strengthening the state's healthcare ecosystem, promoting electronic prescriptions and improving access to health services.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling said on Sunday that the initiative is part of the state's broader efforts to leverage technology to make healthcare delivery more accessible, transparent and integrated, in line with the Centre's vision of 'One Nation, One Health.'

The proposed Odisha health app is expected to encourage doctors to adopt digital prescriptions, creating an electronic record of medicines prescribed to patients. The platform could also help patients maintain their medical information digitally and make prescriptions easier to access when required.

One of the important potential applications of the system would be monitoring antibiotic prescriptions.

According to Mahaling, information on medicines, including antibiotics prescribed by doctors, could be recorded digitally. Such data may help authorities identify prescription patterns and promote the responsible use of antibiotics.

 “Our objective is to use digital tools to improve healthcare delivery and make services more efficient for citizens. Detailed information about the new Odisha app will be shared at the time of its launch,” Mahaling said.

The proposed platform comes as Odisha prepares to expand its digital healthcare infrastructure under the broader Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) framework.

Meanwhile, the National Health Authority has launched Aarogya Setu 2.0, which offers several digital healthcare features. The app promotes the 'Scan and Share' facility, enabling users to access healthcare services more conveniently.

Mahaling highlighted the facility to digitally store and share doctors' prescriptions. Digital lockers can allow patients and families to preserve prescriptions and other medical records for future reference, potentially making it easier to maintain a comprehensive health history.

The minister also spoke about the health department's preparedness for the post-flood situation in the state.

He said doctors had been deployed in flood-affected areas and adequate medicines had been supplied to meet emerging healthcare requirements.