Health infrastructure in new districts of Telangana yet to get a facelift

Hyderabad, December 11, 2021:

Despite the state government’s claims that it is releasing funds liberally to improve health infrastructure across all the districts, the reality is that the newly carved districts are yet to get their share of healthcare infrastructure as they are still running in the same area and community hospitals serving the patients with inadequate facilities.

Even though more than 4 years gone past having carved new districts in Telangana, the health infrastructure in these districts is yet to get a facelift as the current health situation in all the new districts is yet to improve as majority of them are facing lack of qualified staff, lack of infrastructure, and adequate supply of medicines.

For instance, the healthcare facilities in Warangal and newly carved Hanmakonda district are polarised between the two twin cities.  However the healthcare situation in other new districts are still continued to rely on Area Hospitals that barely have infrastructural facilities.

Against this backdrop, the National Health Mission (NHM), Government of India, has come to the rescue of four Area Hospitals in Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Narasmpet and Mahabubad of erstwhile Warangal by providing funds for equipment and civil works.

Apart from these, the government was also providing funds for the upgradation of five other Area Hospitals spread across the state.

The development comes in the wake of a proposal submitted by the commissioner of Health and Family welfare and Mission Director, NHM, Hyderabad, to the central government, explaining the necessity of upgrading nine Area Hospitals with an estimated cost of Rs. 491 crore.

As part of this proposal, the central government has agreed to the proposal and sanctioned an amount of Rs. 214 crore. The remaining amount will be proposed for sanction under NHM in the subsequent years.

As of now, the government has accorded administrative sanction for an amount of Rs. 195 crore for the development of nine hospitals excluding Mahabubabad Area Hospital. The government accorded administrative sanction for Rs. 18.75 crore towards civil works for the Area Hospital in Mahabubabad upgrading it to a medical college hospital.

According to Health and Family Welfare Mission Director’s proposal, Mahabubabad, Narsampet, Bhupalapally and Mulugu Area hospitals need Rs. 217 crore for upgradation. The funding needed for the civil works is Rs. 177 crore and another Rs. 40 crore for the procurement of medical equipment.

According to Vaidya Vidhana Parishad Officials, works will be taken up on the priority basis. All the four Area Hospitals in erstwhile Warangal would be developed in a phased manner. And the hospital capacity will also be increased from 100 at present to 500 beds in the hospitals as the new blocks are already being constructed for the same. PharmaBiz