Cuttack: Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo Friday said that healthcare must be viewed as a fundamental public duty rather than a peripheral welfare function, as he formally inaugurated the MBA Programme in Healthcare Management and Law at National Law University Odisha (NLUO).
Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony, the Deputy CM highlighted the state government’s sustained commitment to strengthening the health sector through increased budgetary allocations, expanded insurance coverage, improved hospital infrastructure and a strong emphasis on primary and preventive care.
He referred to the integration of Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana with Ayushman Bharat– PMJAY as a key step towards ensuring universal health coverage in the state. Singh Deo underlined the growing importance of effective management, sound legal frameworks, ethical governance and clear regulatory mechanisms in the delivery of healthcare services, particularly as systems expand in scale and complexity.
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He described the newly launched MBA programme as timely and relevant, noting that it seeks to bridge critical gaps between administration, law, healthcare delivery and policy implementation.
Congratulating NLUO on the initiative, he expressed confidence that graduates of the programme would play a significant role in strengthening healthcare systems in Odisha and beyond. NLUO Vice-Chancellor Ved Kumari, senior faculty members, healthcare professionals and policymakers were present at the event.
Earlier, Arjyalopa Mishra, Associate Professor and Programme Director, outlined the academic vision of the programme, emphasising NLUO’s commitment to interdisciplinary education. She noted that the curriculum integrates management studies with healthcare law, governance, ethics and hands-on field experience, supported by structured internships and engagement with healthcare institutions.
The keynote address was delivered by Sunil Chandy, former Director of Christian Medical College, Vellore, who highlighted the need for professional management and accountability in healthcare systems. Panel discussions on “Law and Hospitals” and “Law and Health” were also held as part of the programme launch.
