CM Jagan Paves Way for New Government Medical Colleges and Aarogyasri Campaign

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has said admissions will start soon in five new government medical colleges – at Machilipatnam, Vizianagaram, Rajamahendravaram, Eluru and Nandyal -- and another five government medical colleges will do this next year.

He announced the launch of a massive campaign on Aarogyasri from November 15.

The CM conducted a review meeting on medical and health, as also on the new government colleges and Aarogyasri services, at the CM’s Camp office in Tadepalli on Thursday.

Jagan Mohan Reddy asked officials to publish a booklet on how to make use of Aarogyasri services and receive medical treatment. The booklets should be distributed to all households so that every family would have a proper understanding about Aarogyasri.

He stated, “The services of volunteers, village and ward secretariat staff, village clinics, ANMs and ASHA workers should be availed in creating awareness among the people on how to get medical treatment under Aarogyasri from the nearest or network hospitals in the event of accidents or falling sick.”

“There should not be a single person who doesn’t know how to make use of Aarogyasri.”

He said that since the number of ailments and procedures being treated under Aarogyasri has gone up to 3,255 from 1,000 during the TD rule, awareness should be created not only through mobile apps but also through other sources like call centres and booklets.

He said, “Grievance-handling phone numbers also should be publicised so that people would be able to lodge complaints in case of problems or when they come across corrupt staff. Aarogyasri network hospitals should conduct health camps in their jurisdiction with the coordination of village clinics and village and ward secretariat staff.”

Taking stock of the progress of new medical colleges, the chief minister suggested there should be a proper policy for efficient running of new medical colleges and government hospitals.  “The policy should aim at solving the paucity of funds as proper management of medical colleges and speciality hospitals is as important as their construction,” he said.

Funds reimbursed by the government to the network hospitals under Aarogyasri can be made use of for their maintenance. Similarly, government educational institutions should also make use of a part of the funds reimbursed under fee reimbursement for their maintenance.

The CM also asked the officials to develop SOPs to enable hospitals to pay the post-treatment expenses to patients under the Aarogya Asara on the discharge day.

Officials informed him that new medical colleges have been receiving tremendous response from students. People are joining new medical colleges even for pursuing self-finance courses, they said.

Jagan Mohan Reddy said, “While admissions will take place in the new medical colleges at Vizianagaram, Machilipatnam, Rajahmundry, Eluru and Nandyala this year, the new colleges at Pulivendula, Paderu, Adoni, Markapur and Madnapalle will begin the admissions next year.”

The Chief Minister asked them to expedite the construction of new medical colleges at Parvathipuram and Palakollu.

Health minister V. Rajini, Chief Secretary K.S. Jawahar Reddy, Special CS Krishna Babu, health secretary Manjula, APMSIDC chairman Chandrasekhara Reddy and VC & MD Muralidhara Reddy, secondary health director Venkateswar, finance secretary N. Guljar, medical education director DSVL Narasimham, Drugs DG Raghurami Reddy, Aarogyasri Trust chairman Sambasiva Reddy, adviser Govinda Hari, CEO Harinder Prasad and special officer Ashok Babu, Nadu-Nedu director Manohara Reddy and others were present