Hyderabad: The Telangana Government has launched a number of schemes in the medical and health sector during the past four years, which have brought about a commendable change in provision of medical facilities to the common people throughout the State in general and the weaker sections in particular.
Establishment of 34 Dialysis Centres in Government Hospitals across the State and offering free dialysis facility, setting up of 22 ICUs and 12 cancer diagnostic centres in Government Hospitals for the benefit of the masses, replacement of old cots, bed sheets and broken saline stands in Hospitals, introduction of 50 vaccination vehicles in the Capital to vaccinate poor children, provision of two-wheeler scootys to ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwives) at subsidized prices throughout the State, introduction of ‘Ammavodi scheme’ providing free transport facility to pregnant women, and the ‘KCR Kits for pregnant women’, ‘Kanti Velugu’ –eye screening and treatment programme, Arogya Sri, are some of the programmes launched by the Telangana State Government, which have totally changed the public health system and significantly improved the image of Government Hospitals, unlike during the previous regimes.
It may be stated that people have lost faith in Government Hospitals as the earlier dispensations have neglected the public health system, and the situation in Government Hospitals was far from satisfactory. Even in District hospitals, some specialties and diagnostic facilities were not available and people were forced to travel to the State Capital for treatment and diagnostics. As the conditions in Government Hospitals were shabby, people opted for Corporate Hospitals, some of which indulged in practically looting the people. There were allegations that some of the earlier Chief Ministers have starved the Government Hospitals of funds and deliberately encouraged the people to go in for corporate Hospitals. It is no exaggeration to say that the TRS Government has changed the scenario altogether.
While all the programmes launched by the TRS Government have received appreciation from the people, the KCR kits programme in particular has become a huge hit among the weaker sections of the Society. Under this novel and innovative scheme, first of its kind in the country, pregnant women who approached the Government hospitals in the State for delivery are provided financial assistance of Rs.12,000 in three installments. An additional assistance of Rs.1,000 is being given for delivering a girl child. With this scheme, the number of deliveries in Government hospitals has gone up by 51 percent. The scheme, introduced during 2017-18, has been utilized by nearly 12 lakh women till September end this year, of whom two lakhs are SCs and 1.20 lakh are STs.
The Kanti Velugu programme launched in August this year, has been utilized by over 40 lakh people already, out of whom 7.06 lakhs are SCs and 4 lakh STS. As many as 827 teams were pressed in to service for this programme, being implemented throughout the State. This is also a first of its kind programme in the country. The Arogya Sri programme is also being utilized by lakhs of people. (NSS)
