TATA Power led Southern Odisha DISCOM takes Health Care to more than 400  tribal Villages

By Prakash Panigrahi

Berhampur: In a significant boost to healthcare access in Odisha’s tribal belt, over 8,943 pathological tests have been conducted in 414 remote villages through TPSODL’s (TP Southern Odisha Distribution Limited, a joint venture between TATA Power and Government of Odisha) ‘Lab on Wheels’ initiative. The mobile diagnostic service is helping bridge critical healthcare gaps by taking laboratory facilities directly to tribal communities living in the hilly and forested interiors of southern Odisha.

The initiative is bringing quality diagnostic services directly to the doorsteps of tribal communities, elderly citizens, women and other rural residents living in the remote, hilly and forested regions of southern Odisha. It has been particularly beneficial for the Bonda and Didayi Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in the difficult terrains of Malkangiri district, where access to quality healthcare has traditionally remained a major challenge.

Launched on a pilot basis in September 2025 from Boipariguda in Koraput district, the initiative currently serves the undivided districts of Koraput, Malkangiri and Kandhamal—three of Odisha’s largest tribal-dominated districts. Characterised by the Eastern Ghats, dense forests, scattered habitations and difficult connectivity, these districts are home to several tribal communities. Koraput is inhabited by Scheduled Tribes including Gadaba, Paraja, Kandhamal is predominantly home to the Kandha tribe, while Malkangiri is home to the Bonda and Didayi PVTGs, among India’s most vulnerable indigenous communities.

The Lab on Wheels operates through a fully equipped Mobile Health Dispensary (MHD) with an integrated laboratory facility and a dedicated medical team comprising a doctor, laboratory technician, pharmacist and staff nurse. Patients are first examined by the doctor, following which laboratory investigations are prescribed based on clinical assessment. This integrated model enables consultation, diagnosis, laboratory testing and medicine distribution during a single visit, eliminating the need for patients to travel long distances.

The onboard laboratory performs kit-based diagnostic tests, enabling reports to be generated within a short span of time so that treatment can begin immediately. The facility offers a comprehensive range of pathological investigations, including malaria screening, haemoglobin estimation, typhoid testing, Hepatitis-C (HCV) screening, HIV screening, VDRL testing, dengue screening, blood grouping, Random Blood Sugar (RBS), sickle cell anaemia screening and Troponin-I (Trop-I) testing. These services are helping doctors detect diseases at an early stage and initiate timely treatment, particularly during seasonal outbreaks and medical emergencies.

By making diagnostic services available within villages, the initiative has significantly reduced the healthcare burden on tribal families, elderly citizens and economically weaker sections. The availability of on-site diagnostics has also improved treatment compliance and reduced delays in medical intervention in areas where healthcare infrastructure remains limited.

TPSODL CEO Mr. Amit Kumar Garg said, “Quality healthcare should reach every individual, irrespective of geography. Through Lab on Wheels, we are taking essential diagnostic services to remote tribal and rural communities, enabling early diagnosis and timely treatment. This initiative reflects our commitment to strengthening last-mile healthcare and improving the quality of life in our operational areas.”

Through the Lab on Wheels initiative, TPSODL continues to bridge critical healthcare gaps by leveraging mobile medical infrastructure to deliver accessible and quality diagnostic services in some of Odisha’s remote tribal regions. The initiative underscores the company’s commitment to improving community health outcomes while promoting preventive and primary healthcare across its operational areas.