Bhubaneswar,November 24: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday requested Union Health Minister JP Nadda to advise the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi authorities to continue treatment of separated conjoined twins Jaga and Balia until they become fit enough for home care.

Patnaik, in a letter to the Union Health Minister, said, “The professional team at AIIMS, New Delhi had conducted an extremely rare and difficult surgery last year for separating the craniopagus twins, Jaga and Balia, who hail from the tribal district of Kandhamal in Odisha.”

“The state government has been regularly sending teams of specialists to AIIMS, New Delhi to review their condition. Our specialists have opined that the twins are recovering well but have not yet attained stable health condition on account of their being underweight and neurologically impaired. The twins have not become fit enough for home care,” the CM said.

He said that it is learnt that Department of Neurology, AIIMS, New Delhi is pressing to discharge the babies unilaterally against the views of the team of specialists from Odisha and despite the request of the state government to continue their treatment at AIIMS, New Delhi.

“You would appreciate that while we have adequate health infrastructure available in the state, the same may not be able to respond to the special medical needs and care that the twins demand,” Patnaik said.

The CM further said that any capacity constraint in their treatment could prove counterproductive to all the serious and committed efforts made by AIIMS, New Delhi till now.

“I would, therefore, request you to advise the concerned authorities at AIIMS, New Delhi to continue the treatment and care of Jaga and Balia at the premier institute in New Delhi till the twins get fit enough for home care,” the CM said.

“The state is fully committed to bear all medical and related expenses for continuing treatment of the twins at AIIMS, New Delhi,” the CM added.