HYDERABAD: Health minister T. Harish Rao on Monday said that Telangana government’s health spending on each person in the state had increased four-fold, from Rs 925 in 2014 to Rs 3,532 now, with a solid network of five levels of healthcare services. This had been achieved in just 10 years after the state was formed and the BRS government took office.
He also revealed that the government would start an air ambulance service for emergency cases, where critically-ill patients can be flown to the nearest hospitals quickly, beating traffic congestion and other impediments.
The minister was speaking at the release of the ten-year progress report of the state health department here. He said that Telangana was the third largest spender on healthcare services in the country with a budget of Rs 12,364 crore. The state had risen from the eleventh rank in 2014 to third in the Niti Aayog health index.
He said the number of institutional deliveries, conducted in the safety of hospitals, had risen to 70 per cent from 30 per cent. The state had seen a 50 per cent reduction in the mother and child mortality rates since 2014.
Harish Rao highlighted the other significant achievements of the BRS government in the health sector as he hit back at the previous TD and Congress governments for neglecting emergency services in the state.
The minister underlined the new services launched by the government such as 33 neonatal ambulances, 300 Amma Vodi vehicles.
Harish Rao said that the health department had strengthened the intensive care units, dedicated peadiatric care units and special newborn care units in both urban and rural areas.
“Telangana’s medical infrastructure is well-prepared to address any health emergency, boasting 50,000 beds and a comprehensive network of healthcare facilities at the village, urban, mandal, and constituency levels. Notable projects, such as Warangal Health City and the expansion of NIMS, are underway to further bolster healthcare services,” Harish Rao said.
Further over 22,600 positions were filled in the medical department, with additional 7,291 posts in process with the staff nurse recruitments.
The minister also handed over appointment letters to 310 newly pharmacists who will be working in various capacities with 105 working under the Director of Public Health, 135 under Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad, and 70 under Director of Medical Education.
The minister underlined the accomplishment of 100 kidney transplant surgeries at NIMS Hospital within the last six months and said that plans were underway to establish an organ transplant center at Gandhi Hospital’s 8th floor, ensuring accessibility for patients across the country.
