C Pradeep Kumar
Vijayawada
The YSRCP-led State government, headed by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, has consistently prioritised the healthcare sector, with a particular focus on primary and tertiary care. Over the past four years, the government has allocated a substantial budget of Rs 60,496.72 crore.
To revamp primary and tertiary healthcare services, the State government allocated a total of Rs 16,840 crore over the past four years under the ‘Nadu-Nedu’ initiative. This included Rs 1,692 crore for YSR Health Clinics, Rs 670.00 crore for construction, Rs 402.00 crore for strengthening of Primary Health Centers (PHCs), and the establishment and strengthening of YSR Urban Health Clinics for primary healthcare services in urban areas. Besides, Rs 1,223.00 crore was allocated for the construction and strengthening of Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Area Hospitals.
Furthermore, the government allocated funds of Rs 3,820 crore to enhance existing Medical Colleges, Rs 246.30 crores for the establishment of Tribal Multi-Specialty Hospitals, and Rs 257 crores for the establishment of Super Specialty Blocks, including a cancer hospital and Institute of Mental Health in Kadapa, as reported by officials from the Health Medical and Family Welfare department. Over the past four years, the government allocated Rs 7,188.15 crore to enhance Aarogyasri Services in the State.
This scheme, initially introduced by former chief minister YS Rajashekar Reddy in 2007, was revamped by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in 2019. The revamp included an increase in the number of procedures covered from 2,446 to 3,255, and the ceiling limit of eligibility under the scheme was enhanced to Rs 5 lakhs per annum per family. The scheme also saw an increase in empanelled hospitals from 919 to 2,262, including all government hospitals.
According to officials, the 3,255 procedures now cover high-end procedures costing between Rs 6.5 lakh and Rs 12 lakh. The utilisation of the scheme per day has significantly increased from 1,570 patients per day before 2019 to 4,394 patients per day after 2019. The monthly expenditure on the scheme has also risen from Rs 108.25 crores before 2019 to Rs 263.63 crores as of June 2019. The Aarogyasri scheme has been implemented not only in the state but also in Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bangalore for 716 super specialty procedures across 202 hospitals. Additionally, a dedicated Call Centre has been set up to handle Aarogyasri-related complaints and grievances.
Under the Arogya Aasara initiative, the government has allocated Rs 971.27 crore to provide post-operative sustenance allowance to Aarogyasri patients at the rate of Rs 225 per day. So far, approximately 15,64,997 individuals have benefited from this scheme. The government has also revamped the 104 and 108 services, with an increase in the number of mobile medical units (MMUs) from 292 to 676 vehicles. These MMUs now offer 20 types of services, equipped with 29 types of equipment and 74 drugs.
The fleet of 108 ambulances has been expanded to 768 (432 new + 336 old), resulting in improved ambulance services and a reduced ambulance population ratio from 1,19,595 to 74,609. The average response time for ambulances is now 00:15:34 in urban areas, 00:17:55 in rural areas, and 00:23:43 in tribal areas. The government’s monthly expenditure on these 768 ambulances is approximately Rs 14.39 crores.
In pursuit of healthcare system reforms, the Jagan Mohan Reddy Government has made significant staffing appointments. Between 2014 and 2019, only 1,581 medical officers, 1,050 specialists, 1,672 staff nurses, 44 pharmacists, and 122 lab technicians were recruited. However, after 2019, the government filled 48,639 positions across various categories, spanning from field to specialty care.
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the Dr. YSR Thalli Bidda Express services on April 6, 2023. This flagship programme of the ruling YSRCP government aims to provide safe transportation to post-natal women and newborns after their discharge from public health institutions. Five hundred air-conditioned brand new vehicles have been deployed across 26 districts for this purpose.
The government officially launched the Family Physician (doctor) concept on April 6, 2023. This program, in collaboration with Medical Officers, CHOs, ANM, ASHA, and Volunteers, ensures the delivery of medical services (OP and NCD follow-up care, etc.) once a fortnight at Dr. YSR Village Health Clinics, schools, and Anganwadi centers, thereby enhancing health-seeking procedures.
To provide quality primary healthcare to rural communities, the government has established 10,032 Dr. YSR Village Health Clinics, serving every 2,000 population. These health clinics are staffed with one Community Health Officer (CHO) holding a B.Sc. Nursing qualification and one Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM). Additionally, the state government has decided to establish two Primary Health Centres (PHCs) per mandal, with 88 new PHCs being sanctioned to ensure two PHCs per mandal.
According to Health Minister Vidada Rajini, the admission process for the current academic year 2023-24 in five new Government Medical Colleges in Andhra Pradesh (Vizianagaram, Nandyal, Eluru, Machilipatnam, and Rajahmundry) will commence in August. Classes are scheduled to begin on September 1. The minister also announced that these five new government medical colleges will provide an additional 750 MBBS seats across the State.
