The TDP-led NDA government in the State has evolved an action plan aimed at infusing a sense of discipline among doctors, bringing a change in their conduct towards patients and enhancing diagnostic equipment in government hospitals, according to Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav.
Addressing the media in Vijayawada on Saturday (June 7, 2025), the Minister took a jibe at the YSRCP, and said the NDA did not consider people who voted against them as ‘back stabbers’.
“We try to fulfil the promises made to the people. We have worked with accountability and responsibility,” he said.
Giving an account of the changes in the Primary Health sector, the Minister said, in recognition of the State’s efforts in improving the implementation of the Centrally-sponsored schemes at the village level, the Centre sanctioned ₹100 crore for the State towards performance incentive.
“This is not a small thing. During the past five years, the Centre did not give any such incentive,” the Minister said, adding the present government secured funds, to the tune of ₹1,065 crore, from the Centre for construction of 3,318 buildings of Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs in the State. At present, many were being run in rented spaces.
Pointing out that timely and reliable diagnostic confirmation of diseases was the first step in ensuring healthcare for all, he said the government procured more than 3,200 diagnostic equipment in the past one year and decided to conduct 47 types of diagnostic tests at the doorstep of the people through the ‘104’ service vehicles.
Referring to the Tirumala laddu episode, the Minister said the government was focussing on opening drug testing laboratories in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Kurnool. New labs had been sanctioned for Tirumala, Eluru and Ongole.
In line with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision of digitising healthcare, the Minister said an MoU had been signed with the Bill Gates Foundation for setting up Digital Health Command and Care Centre, strengthening Telemedicine services, supply chain management for drugs and consumables.
Giving numbers as ‘stastical evidence’ of the change brought in by the present government, he said the attendance of doctors and other medical staff had increased by about 7.42% to 14.20%, OP services increased by about 8%, In-Patient (IP) services saw an improvement of 4% to 17.61%, lab tests saw an increase of 7.20%.
He added that various surveys had shown that the public perception regarding availability of doctors in Government General Hospitals, their attitude, supply of free medicines improved. Talking about further plans, the Minister said the universal health insurance of up to ₹25 lakh would be rolled out soon.
During an interaction with the mediapersons, the Minister said the COVID situation was not alarming in the State and that there were no restrictions on gathering. “We have N95 masks, oxygen cylinders, beds, wards ready. However, the situation is not alarming and there is nothing to worry,” he said, adding that only those with comorbidities need to be extra careful.
Health Special Chief Secretary M.T. Krishna Babu and Commissioner G. Veerapandian were present.
Published – June 08, 2025 04:50 am IST
