Health is not just survival—it is the foundation of a life lived with dignity. This core belief has driven Prof. Achyuta Samanta, founder of Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), to reshape the healthcare landscape in Odisha and beyond.
Born into extreme poverty, Prof. Samanta experienced the harsh realities of inadequate healthcare firsthand. As a child, an unfortunate accident nearly cost him his eyesight when his mother accidentally injured his eye. For a family with limited means, accessing medical treatment was an uphill battle. Though he eventually recovered, the incident instilled in him a lasting conviction—healthcare should not depend on luck or location.
This conviction led to the founding of KIMS in 2007, a comprehensive medical institution with a mission to provide quality, affordable, and compassionate healthcare. What began as a modest medical college with a hospital has today evolved into a 2,600-bed multi-specialty hospital. This includes a 300-bed Super Specialty Hospital, a 300-bed Cancer Care Centre, and a 1,600-bed General Hospital catering especially to the underprivileged.
KIMS is not just a hospital—it is a center of excellence in medical education, research, and outreach. With its associated Dental and Nursing Colleges, KIMS serves as a full-fledged healthcare education hub, attracting top doctors and specialists from across India.
Prof. Samanta’s commitment to accessible healthcare goes beyond the walls of KIMS. His initiative, HERO – Health Empowerment of Rural Odisha, bridges the urban-rural healthcare divide by establishing satellite centers in remote areas. These centers function as mini-hospitals, offering consultations, diagnostics, and treatments to those who would otherwise travel miles for basic care.
Under the HERO initiative, free health camps are regularly organized in tribal and rural regions. These camps provide screenings, medicines, and routine check-ups, helping detect and treat illnesses early. During the COVID-19 pandemic, KIMS emerged as a frontline warrior—offering large-scale testing, vaccination drives, critical care services, and emergency response.
Prof. Samanta’s impact goes beyond institutional efforts. As a Member of Parliament, he has actively supported the TB Mukt Bharat campaign and continues to advocate for equitable healthcare policies. Known for his compassion, he often personally sponsors surgeries and treatments for those in need, responding to letters, appeals, or even newspaper reports.
“Healthcare is not about charity; it is about justice,” says Prof. Samanta. His vision is one where no individual is denied treatment due to poverty or geography. He emphasizes that while infrastructure is vital, the real transformation lies in affordable, accessible, and patient-centered care, with outreach and prevention as the cornerstones.
In Prof. Samanta’s journey, healthcare is more than a service—it is a social equalizer. As India advances, his work serves as a powerful reminder that when healthcare reaches everyone, society becomes stronger, just, and more humane.
