Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Kondru Murali on Sunday said steps were being taken to transform Vijayawada as a ‘Health City’ by bringing in a super speciality hospital and developing the existing medical colleges.
The Minister was on a visit to Shaik Raja Maternity Centre which has been handed over to Andhra Pradesh Vaidya Vidhan Parishat by the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation.
Addressing the media, the Minister said that construction of a super-speciality hospital would be taken up on the premises of Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences land at an estimated cost of Rs.290 crores. He said that utilisation of 50 acres to 100 acres of land for the mega project was under consideration.
The Minister said that as part of the Government’s endeavour to ensure health for all, every district had been sanctioned a medical college. In coastal Andhra, theses colleges were sanctioned to Vizianagaram and West Godavari districts while in Telangana region, Nizamabad and Karimnagar districts were the beneficiaries. In Nizamabad district, the medical college would start this academic year, he added.
Mr. Murali said that the fact that the Government had earmarked a budget of Rs.6,500 crore for health sector in the current financial year spoke clearly about its commitment to ensure health for all.
About Rs. 6,000 crore had been spent for undertaking 20 lakh surgeries on beneficiaries of the State-sponsored Arogyasri scheme. Nearly 70 lakh white ration card holders had been brought under the purview of Arogyasri scheme which entitled them to free medical facilities in corporate hospitals too, he said.
He said that all Government employees would be given health cards and soon the facility would be extended to other sections like municipal employees,+ advocates and media personnel.
To strengthen the medical and health sector, medicines valued at Rs. 300 crore had been purchased besides acquiring medical equipment valued at Rs.350 crore.
Similarly, efforts had been initiated for filling of 1200 vacant doctor posts through State Service Commission besides 400 assistant professors in teaching hospitals.
He said that following a plea by people in the city, the State Government had taken over the Shaik Raja Maternity Centre to improve facilities and extend quality medical services to the local residents. Local MLA Vellampalli Srinivas and other medical officials were present.
