Tirupati: Health infra upgrade at a cost of 16K-crore

Tirupati: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has initiated to bring in massive changes in the Department of Public Health by spending a whopping Rs 16,000 crore, said Health Minister Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas alias Nani.

Using these funds, everything from PHCs to teaching hospitals will be modernised and upgraded to take health services to the doorstep of people.

The Minister inspected the three sites identified by the district administration to set up a medical college and a teaching hospital at Madanapalle on Saturday. He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister K Narayana Swamy, Minister for Panchyat Raj P Ramachandra Reddy, MPs P Mithun Reddy and N Reddeppa, MLAs P Dwarakanath Reddy, Nawaj Basha, Chittoor Collector Dr N Bharat Gupta and others. The proposed college would be the fourth medical college in the district which is already having two colleges in Tirupati and one in Chittoor.

Speaking on the occasion, Alla Nani said that the government has decided to set up one medical college in each Parliamentary constituency in the State and Madanapalle is a suitable place in Rajampet constituency. Collector Bharat Gupta has explained about the available facilities around the three sites to the Ministers.

The Health Minister has asked the district officials to find out if any other sites are available to set up a super speciality hospital attached to the proposed medical college. After finalising the site, tender process will be initiated for the new entity to make it available to cater to the needs in the backward region.

"Every hospital in the State will have all equipment and doctors to provide the best healthcare to the people. The government has decided to fill up 9,700 posts in the Medical and Health Department. To provide better health services in rural areas, the government has mulled setting up 11,000 village clinics across the State among which Chittoor district will get 417 clinics," the Minister explained.

Joint Collector-II V Veerab- rahmam, Trainee Collector Vishnu Charan, Madanapalli in-charge RDO Murali, DM&HO Dr M Penchalaiah, DCHS Dr P Saralamma and others were also present on the occasion.