Government mulling to utilise private teaching hospitals

Hyderabad: Facing criticism over lack of beds in government hospitals across the State as patients affected with viral fever and water-borne diseases are thronging State hospitals because of which two or more patients are being treated in one single bed in some districts, the Telangana government has decided to involve teaching hospitals connected to private medical colleges for extending better health care.

Health Minister Eatala Rajender stated that they are mulling to utilise 13,500-odd bed strength of the superspeciality teaching hospitals of the 23-odd private medical colleges in the State.

Speaking in the discussion on medical and health Demand in Assembly on Thursday, Eatala said that each private college has got a teaching hospital of 600 to 650 beds each.

He pointed out that if private teaching hospitals are also linked and free treatment extended to the public in the nearby areas, then it would be a big boost as already government hospitals have a bed strength of over 22,000.

He made this statement after CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka alleged that beds are proving to be insufficient in government hospitals to meet the heavy rush of patients affected with fevers at present.

Bhatti Vikarmarka objected to Eatala Rajender speech alleging that he was just making tall claims about his government initiatives while the ground reality was different as patients are suffering due to lack of facilities in government hospitals.

He also stated that lesser budget allocation for buying medicines and equipment and non-payment of the amount still to beneficiaries of KCR kits for the last several months.

In response, Eatala Rajender clarified that Health department will not have set allocations like done for R & B, Transport etc like departments, or budgetary restrictions and funds can be reappropriated from other sources depending upon requirement and necessities.

He further stated that there was no budgetary cuts for medicines, KCR kits, or 108, 104, 101 or mobile clinic services.

Rajender has expressed his disappointment at the attitude of Congress in present health crisis and he said that the national party leaders created panic in people of the State, who then flocked to private hospitals for treatment for fevers.