Odisha Creates 4,433 Nursing Officer Posts to Strengthen Grassroots Healthcare
New Workforce to Serve as Community Health Officers in Ayushman Arogya Mandirs
Bhubaneswar: In a major push to strengthen primary healthcare delivery, the Odisha government has approved the creation of 4,433 new nursing officer posts, marking one of the largest workforce expansions in recent years. The newly appointed nursing officers will serve as Community Health Officers (CHOs) in Ayushman Arogya Mandir sub-health centres across the state, significantly enhancing the state’s rural health network.
According to an official statement from the Health and Family Welfare Department, the move aims to make healthcare services “more streamlined, organised, and people-oriented.” By deploying trained nursing officers at the grassroots, the government hopes to improve last-mile service delivery, preventive care, and patient follow-up in rural communities.
Officials said the presence of nursing officers as CHOs will strengthen coordination in patient care, improve supervision of sub-centre operations, and ensure uniform standards in nursing management. “The quality of nursing services in hospitals and field-level institutions will improve. This initiative will help make the state’s healthcare environment more efficient and committed in the coming days,” the statement added.
The Finance Department has also granted approval for the creation of these posts, paving the way for rapid recruitment. The Health Department is now preparing regulations for examinations, training modules, and posting procedures. These guidelines will be announced soon, official sources confirmed.
The decision aligns with Odisha’s broader strategy to upgrade primary care infrastructure under the Ayushman Bharat model, where sub-health centres function as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs equipped with community-based health personnel. With the addition of thousands of nursing officers, the state aims to deliver more comprehensive services ranging from maternal and child healthcare to non-communicable disease management, health promotion, and telemedicine support.
The creation of these posts is expected to significantly reduce staffing gaps at the community level, enhance early disease detection, and improve referral systems to higher medical facilities. By boosting human resources in the healthcare sector, the government seeks to build a more resilient, accessible, and people-centric health ecosystem for Odisha’s rural population.
With recruitment set to begin soon, the initiative marks a decisive step toward strengthening health systems and ensuring that quality care reaches every household across the state.
