Part 3: Capital Hospital (PGIMER & Capital Hospital) — The State Flagship

Capital Hospital is the largest and most important state government hospital in Bhubaneswar. Located at Unit-6, Bhubaneswar - 751001, it is approximately 8 km from Niladri Vihar. If you want truly free healthcare, this is your primary destination.

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1. Why Capital Hospital is Special

Capital Hospital operates under the Government of Odisha and is the primary beneficiary of two game-changing state schemes:

• Niramaya = Free Medicines
• NIDAN = Free Diagnostics

This means that for an Odisha resident, virtually everything from consultation to surgery is free.

2. Departments Available

Capital Hospital has over 20 departments including:

• Medicine, Surgery, Orthopaedics, Gynaecology, Paediatrics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Dental, Radiology, Pathology, Anaesthesia, Blood Bank, Physiotherapy.
• Specialized clinics for Diabetes, Hypertension, TB (DOTS), Leprosy, and HIV/AIDS (ART Centre).

3. What is Completely Free

Service	Cost
OPD Consultation	Free
All Medicines	Free (Niramaya DDC)
Blood Tests	Free (NIDAN)
X-Ray	Free (NIDAN)
CT Scan	Free (NIDAN)
MRI Scan	Free (NIDAN)
Ultrasound	Free (NIDAN)
ECG	Free
Surgery (Minor & Major)	Free
ICU Admission	Free
Inpatient Bed (General)	Free
Ambulance (108)	Free
Dialysis	Free

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4. The OPD Process

1. Arrive early (OPD opens at 8:00 AM). The earlier you arrive, the sooner you see a doctor.
2. Go to Registration Counter — Carry your Aadhaar Card and any previous medical records.
3. Get your OPD Card — This is free. You will be given a slip for the relevant department.
4. See the Doctor — After consultation, the doctor writes a prescription.
5. Collect Free Medicines — Take the prescription to the Drug Distribution Centre (DDC) inside the hospital. This is where Niramaya operates. You will receive your medicines for free.
6. Get Free Tests — If the doctor orders blood tests, X-ray, CT scan, or MRI, go to the respective department. Under NIDAN, all these tests are free.

5. Honest Review

Strengths:

• Truly free healthcare — The Niramaya + NIDAN combination makes it arguably the best value hospital in the city.
• 24/7 Emergency department with trauma care.
• Experienced doctors — Many senior doctors have decades of experience.
• ART Centre for free HIV/AIDS treatment.
• Blood Bank for free blood transfusion services.

Weaknesses:

• Infrastructure is older compared to AIIMS. The buildings are aging.
• Overcrowding in OPD can be extreme, especially in Medicine and Surgery departments.
• Specialist availability — Some super-specialty consultants may only be available on specific days.
• Cleanliness varies by department.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Best for: Free routine treatment, chronic disease management, free diagnostics, free medicines. Not ideal for: Super-specialty surgery (use AIIMS or BSKY private hospitals for that).

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6. Contact Information

• Address: Unit-6, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751001
• Phone: 0674-2391983
• Website: capitalhospital.nic.in

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Next: Part 4 — BSKY Smart Health Card: ₹5-10 Lakh Free Coverage