Hyderabad: The government in Telangana has taken revolutionary steps in the Health and Medical department, making the State a ‘Healthy Telangana’.
To improve healthcare and the health of the people, the State government started ‘Basti Dawakhanas’ to provide quality health services to the urban poor. Currently, there are 350 ‘Basti Dawakhanas’ serving the GHMC area, with each dispensary serving a population of 5,000-10,000. As of December 2022, a total of 2,11,23,408 people have been treated in ‘Basti Dawakhanas’, with the government spending Rs 94.87 crore. Telangana Diagnostics centers have conducted over 11 crore free diagnostic tests, with 20 Diagnostic Hubs serving across the State.
The ‘Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jana Arogya Yojana – Arogyasri’ schemes were merged on May 18, 2021, increasing the maximum coverage limit per family per year from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Aarogyasri packages are applicable to both government and private hospitals, and as of May this year, 16 lakh people have availed of the services, with the government spending Rs 7,000 crore on the scheme.
Cashless treatment is provided to State government employees, pensioners, journalists, and their dependent family members. Kidney patients receive free dialysis services under Arogyasri. The government operates 108 ambulances that transport injured individuals to hospitals in emergency situations. Currently, there are 108 ambulances and 455 vehicles providing services, along with 300 working 102 vehicles. The government has also introduced 33 new neo-natal ambulances.
In just nine years since its formation, Telangana has gone from having five government medical colleges to 29 sanctioned by the government.
