Hyderabad: Big Changes in Health Sector Under Praja Palana
The health sector in Hyderabad has undergone significant improvements during the last year under the leadership of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. One of the first actions taken by the CM was to double the Arogyasri health insurance limit and increase funding for the health department, addressing issues that had plagued the system for the past decade. Officials revealed that the government also prioritized the establishment of new medical, nursing, and paramedical colleges, along with increasing seats, hospital beds, and launching other key programs.
In a groundbreaking initiative, the state introduced family digital health cards, a first-of-its-kind project in India. These cards aim to create a comprehensive state-wide health profile and reduce the hassle for individuals who would otherwise need to carry old medical records to hospitals.
Financially, the government has significantly increased its spending on health. Officials reported that, under the previous administration, an average of Rs 52 crore per month was spent on Rajiv Arogyasri from 2014 to October 2023. In contrast, the current government has been spending an average of Rs 76 crore per month since December 2023. Furthermore, the free medical treatment limit under Arogyasri was raised from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. Long-pending issues, such as revising treatment costs under the Arogyasri scheme, were resolved in just six months, with prices for 1,375 treatments increased by 20%. This revitalized the Arogyasri program.
The government has also addressed staff shortages in healthcare facilities, a problem neglected by the previous administration. Within a year, 7,750 health department positions were filled, and recruitment for an additional 6,494 posts is underway. The Medical and Health Services Recruitment Board (MHSRB) is also preparing notifications for 607 assistant professor posts, 1,690 civil assistant surgeon (specialist) posts, and 308 pharmacist (AYUSH) posts.
In just eight months, eight new government medical colleges have been opened in areas such as Ulugu, Gadwal, Narsampet, Narayanpet, Medak, Qutbullapur, Maheshwaram, and Yadadri. This expansion has increased the number of MBBS seats in government colleges from 3,690 to 4,090. Additionally, a 50-bed hospital in Kodangal has been upgraded to a 220-bed facility, offering advanced medical services to residents of the Vikarabad district.
The government has also made significant strides in nursing and paramedical education. Over the past year, 16 nursing colleges and 28 paramedical colleges have been established, providing 960 new seats for students. Each nursing college offers 60 BSc seats, which are already available for the current academic year.
These initiatives highlight the government’s commitment to improving healthcare services and education, ensuring better access and facilities for the people of the state.
