‘Will allocate more funds for healthcare’

The Telangana government will allocate substantial funds to the medical and health department in the next budget, emphasizing its significance for lower and middle-income groups, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka said.
Speaking at a pre-budget meeting for the department of medical and health, and science and technology, held at the secretariat on Tuesday, he, along with Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha, outlined key priorities for the sector.
The ministers said that during the past decade, crucial areas like drugs, food safety and medical education had been neglected. “The government will now focus on strengthening these three areas,” they said, adding that modernization efforts for the drugs and food safety divisions would be prioritized.
Bhatti Vikramarka said that Rajiv Aarogyasri would receive ample funding to ensure improved healthcare services for economically weaker sections. “We are committed to expanding medical infrastructure, and by
the end of the next financial year, construction of medical college buildings and hospitals across the state will be completed,” the ministers said.
They also directed officials to maximize the utilization of Centrally-sponsored schemes. Plans are also underway to set up science and technology planetariums in district headquarters, the ministers revealed.