Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has conveyed his greetings to Telangana people on the occasion of World Health Day on Thursday (April 7). The Chief Minister wished the state people to lead a healthy and happy life.
The State Government is already making efforts to the protection of people’s health. The State is also registering a qualitative progress in the area of public health and medical infrastructure, he said.
The constant improvement of healthcare facilities in the four corners of the state has displayed the state government’s commitment. Along with the implementation of slew of several schemes, the government made substantial increase in the budget allocation to the healthcare, the CM said.
As part of strengthening of medical and health sector, KCR said that necessary measures were taken to increase the human resources in the medical department. 21,073 posts were already sanctioned in the health wing. The construction of Super Specialty hospitals, Medical college in every district and an affiliated Nursing college, MCH centres, the increase of UG, PG, Super specialty medical seats and the enhancement of nursing seats were among the steps taken to consolidate the public health sector in Telangana.
The CM said that the Basti Dawakhanas, launched with an aim of reaching the medical facilities at the door steps, were receiving good response from people. Taking cue from the success of basti dawakhanas , the Government has established Palle Dawakhanas in the villages and extending medical services. In the GHMC limits, 350 Basti Dawakhanas have provided medical treatment to 81 lakh people and 19.61 lakh people utilized medical services from 2,250 palle dawakhanas so far.
KCR Kit, Arogya Laxmi etc schemes have brought qualitative change in the public health sector, the Chief Minister said that the government’s dedication in delivering medical services to the needy was proved by the establishment of Telangana Diagnostic centres which offers medical tests free of cost.
Amma – Vodi vehicles, Mata – Shishu Samrakhshana centres (Mother and infant care) Paramapada vehicles (Hearse services) Modernization of Mortuaries, Cath lab centres, Organ transplantation centres, Stem cell therapy centres and Genomic sequence laboratories have been made available. All these initiatives were taken as part of protection of public health and it demonstrated the commitment of the state government. KCR said that the launch of Telangana health profile programme would pave way to achieve Arogya Telangana (Healthy Telangana).
Palliative care programme, NCD Screening, Midwifery programme, Equipment maintenance policy, Sanitation policy, increase of Diet charges for patients in the hospitals, food supply to patient attendants on subsidy were also introduced, KCR said that the Arogya Sri services were also expanded. The increase of age limit to the employees, hike in their salaries and additional increments were also implemented. Special health scheme to employees and journalists was already in the force. Doctors were availing Pay scales on par with UGC and the nurses are getting new PRC. Wages to PG students and medicos also increased.
The Government also enhanced the salaries of Asha workers, contract, outsourcing and sanitation workers considerably.
During the corona pandemic, the state government has conducted Fever survey and the Telangana stood as role model state in curbing the spread of Covid virus in the country. The establishment of RTPCR centers successful conduct of Covid vaccination and the increase of Oxygen production were part of the measures taken to control covid spread and it showed the capability of the state government.
The healthcare services were extended to people in five stages from the present three stages. The decentralization of the services helped people to avail medical services easily in the district centers.
PHCs, CHCs Secondary (AH and DH), Tertiary (medical teaching hospitals) new preventive and super specialty hospital services were made available. Basic medical infrastructure was improved to provide preventive medicine in Palle dawakhana, basti dawakhana, Super specialty and TIMS hospitals. As per the WHO guidelines and in proportionate to the population, the Chief minister said that the bed capacity also increased in the hospitals.
Along with the modernization of Maternity hospitals, the chief minister said that Palliative cares centers and organ transplant centers were set up in the state. Kidney, heart, Lungs, Liver transplantation centers were opened in NIMS and Gandhi hospitals. Bone Marrow and stem cells center were opened.
13,29,951 pregnant women have benefited from KCR Kits. The CM claimed no such health care action plan to protect people health was taken up in the country earlier. Till date, 10,85,448 kits were supplied under KCR kit. For this purpose, the government has spent Rs 1387 crore. Between 2018-2019, 1.5 crore people underwent eye screening under Kanti Velugu programme. 41 per cent of the screened have been given spectacles.
First time in the country, 10,000 kidney patients underwent single dialysis for 45 lakh sessions, the CM said that the government has spent Rs 600 crore alone on this. Free bus pass and kidney transplantation services were also provided free of cost to the patients.
The number of 108 vehicles have been increased to 426 from 330 and it provided emergency services to 17.65 lakh people. 38.7 lakh pregnant women utilized Amma Vodi scheme. 50 hearse vehicles, 33 Aalana vehicles were pressed into services and Telemedicine and Specialist service were also provided. A revolutionary drone services also introduced for the supply of medicines in the medical emergency, the CM said.
The government was already supplying Safe drinking water through Mission Bhagiratha. The supply of potable drinking water helped to reduce water borne diseases. Diarrhea has been eradicated completely by the supply of safe drinking water. Fluoride menace also rooted out from Telangana.
The government also taken measures to help the medical students who returned from Ukraine after Russia invaded the neighboring country. The Medical and health department has received big applause at national level for extending quality medical services along with securing best ranking from NITI Ayog. It is proud moment that Telangana has achieved third place in the protection of public health in the country, the CM said congratulated the state Medical and health minister and the entire staff of the department on the occasion.