The National Leprosy Elimination Programme(NLEP) is under implementation in the State since 1982-83. The successful implementation of the programme in the state has led to the decrease in prevalence rate of Leprosy at the state level to only 1.05 per 10,000 population by March 2006.

The scope of GIS assumes significance as most of the activities envisaged in NRHM Programme, health determinants, diseases surveillance, etc are being monitored and planned through a GIS based health information System. Some of the initiatives taken up by the health department under National Rural Health Mission, Orissa by applying GIS technology, are given below.

Various categories of health institutions run by government have been mapped which includes, District Headquarter Hospital, Sub-Divisional Hospital, Community Health Centers, Primary Health Centers, Primary Health Centers-New, Area Hospital, Mobile Health Units and other health care facilities like blood banks available in different districts, training institutes for ANM, MPHW, Rural health centers, etc.

Based on secondary data sources available with various Cells under Disease Control Programme, spatial dimension of various diseases like TB, malaria, leprosy, HIV, etc, are being mapped. Based on the GIS analysis, action plan on the steps to be taken in terms of allocation of more resources to endemic prone areas on priority basis, training of health personnel, public awareness campaign, etc are being made.

order to analyze the area coverage of each subcentre and its proximity & accessibility, sector maps were prepared for each block of Deogarh district. It helped in finding those villages which remain unserved or inaccessible in terms of getting basic health care facilities. This also helped in allocating additional resources to these unserved villages in terms of providing mobile health care or by establishing additional Subcentres.

In order to revamp the Urban health care system a study was carried out using advanced technology of remote sensing, GPS(Global Positioning System) and GIS, to study the availability and density of health care services and facilities especially specialist services available in various govt./ private health units(including AYUSH institutions) and their geographical concentration. Based on the present study

-> Potential private partners for either tier will be identified to improve the quality and standard of health among the urban poor, to capitalize on the skills of potential partners, encourage pooling of resources, and to reduce the investment burden on the government.

-> The information derived through the present study will be disseminated to every health concered people who want to know where My Doctor is.

A GIS based Health Information Management System is being developed based on facility Survey data. This will help in analysing the additional manpower and infrastructure required for raising the health units to Indian Public Health Standard.