Ritesh Agarwal, the founder of OYO, has announced the establishment of five healthcare centers for the underprivileged in Odisha over the next one year. The centers will be operated by the health-tech startup ‘Last Mile Care’, which already runs 11 health centers across India. The strategic placement of these centers aims to cover regions with limited access to healthcare facilities, thereby bridging the gap between healthcare services and marginalised populations.

As part of this initiative, the first center – the Ramesh and Bela Agarwal Healthcare Center, was inaugurated by Jagannath Saraka, the state minister for SC & ST Development, Minorities and Backward Class Welfare and Law, in Ritesh Agarwal’s hometown of Rayagada, and is named in honor of his parents, late Ramesh Agarwal and Bela Agarwal.

In addition to this, each such center will have a team of doctors with specialisation in gynecology, eye diseases and heart diseases. A pharmacy will also be available to offer complete healthcare solutions to patients.

Last Mile Care successfully operates 13 such centers across India, including one in Tandipur village in Odisha, developed in partnership with OYO Care, the CSR wing of OYO.

Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO of OYO, said, “As we navigate the ever-evolving healthcare landscape, collaboration between healthcare providers, tech innovators, policymakers, and communities is paramount. By fostering an environment conducive to innovation and investing in initiatives such as these, we are doing our bit to ensure that quality medical services become accessible to everyone.”