Hyderabad:
The government is planning to make specialist doctors like cardiologists and pulmonologists available at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to help poor patients who cannot afford expensive private healthcare. The Health Department is working on a plan to deploy these specialists on a rotation basis every week, according to sources.
Initially, specialists such as gynaecologists, paediatricians, general medicine doctors, general surgeons, ophthalmologists, dentists, orthopaedic doctors, ENT specialists, and psychiatrists will be available. However, these specialists will not be present every day of the week. For example, gynaecologists and paediatricians will be available for consultations on Mondays, orthopaedic specialists on Tuesdays, and general medicine and surgery doctors on Wednesdays.
Doctors from teaching hospitals, district hospitals, area hospitals, and Community Health Centres (CHCs) will be assigned to PHCs based on their availability. This rotation system will allow poor patients to get free specialist consultations without having to pay the high fees charged by private hospitals, which can range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per visit.
A senior official stated that the government wants to make specialist services free for the public at PHCs. Currently, PHCs and ‘Basti Dawakhanas’ already offer free diagnostic tests through Telangana Diagnostic Services, reducing the cost burden for patients. With the new plan, patients will also receive free consultations from specialists. If the PHC does not have the necessary facilities, patients will be referred to larger hospitals.
The Health Department is working to ensure that all necessary facilities are soon available in PHCs, making healthcare more accessible to those in need.
