Like Father – Like Son : Jagan’s Special Focus On Govt Hospitals

After introducing a slew of measures aimed at improving the state-run educational institutions, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has now shifted focus towards a bigger challenge, modernising the government hospitals and constructing new medical colleges.

Jagan asserted time and again that he would strive for the welfare of the education and the health sectors. He vowed to continue the welfare mission introduced by his father and former chief minister late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy by putting in more efforts.

YSR’s flagship scheme Aarogyasri introduced in 2007 aimed at providing quality healthcare to the poor and won people’s appreciation in the state. Even the 108 ambulance and 104 ambulance services which came into the media glare during the YSR regime had really served the people in need. The ambulance services have revolutionised medicare in the state.

Like Father, Like Son

Carrying forward the tradition of his illustrious father, the dynamic CM, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, had also introduced several welfare schemes for the poor. Jagan launched the expanded version of Aarogyasri which would cover over 2,200 procedures while it covered only 1,059 procedures during the previous TDP regime. He also cleared dues of Rs 680 crore to the Aarogyasri network hospitals after being voted to power.

Above all, Jagan included treatment for Covid-19 under Aarogyasri which had helped many poor to obtain quality treatment for the disease which could prove fatal if left untreated.

At present, there are 11 medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh. Jagan has plans to build 16 more medical colleges in the state in the next three years. The YCP government is planning to establish one medical college in each Parliamentary constituency in the state.

Better basic facilities

In tune with his “Maata tappanu… madama tippanu” motto, Jagan has been fulfilling every promise made during his 3,600-km Praja Sankalpa Yatra. He had already introduced several schemes like Amma Vodi for increasing literacy in the state. He also rolled out schemes for the weavers, auto-rickshaw drivers, SHG women and many other marginalised sections in the society.

Coming to health sector, apart from handling the Corona crisis deftly, Jagan is readying to launch an improvisation drive in government hospitals as part of which basic facilities in all state facilities would be modernised. According to reports, Jagan had already given instructions to officials to take up Nadu-Nedu programme in government hospitals too, along with educational institutions.

The Chief Minister reportedly directed the officials to ensure that the state hospitals were overhauled in such a manner that all that not done by the earlier governments in the last 70 years should be compensated at one go. He held a meeting with the medical and health officials and discussed modalities for the modernisation drive at length with them.

No compromise

Jagan told the officials to provide modern facilities in all the government hospitals and at the same time not to compromise on the quality of construction works. Jagan said that he has a dream to give corporate look to the government hospitals and asked the officials to strive for it and see that the modernisation drive should be so significant that it stands out in the history. The construction and modernisation of government hospitals should match with international standards, he said.

The Chief Minister told them that the construction of all the hospitals should be complete within three years and that every hospital should be at its best. Further, he told the officials that the maintenance of equipment, ACs, lifts, electrical, non-electrical equipment, fire control devices should be handed over to private organisations for the next 7 years. He also asked them to ensure that there is centralised AC system in all hospitals as doctors can provide the best of their services only when they do not face any troubles or difficulties at the workplace.

Tenders & works

The officials briefed the CM that land acquisition and related works have been completed for construction of medical colleges at Paderu, Pidiguralla, Machilipatnam and Pulivendula. They said that the finalisation of tenders and judicial preview will also be taken up soon.

They told Jagan that the judicial preview of tenders related to medical colleges in Bapatla, Vizianagaram, Eluru, Anakapalle, Markapuram, Madanapalle, Nandyal would be done this month.

In November, the tenders of medical colleges in Rajahmundry, Penukonda, Amalapuram, Adoni would be sent for judicial preview.

On October 2, Jagan will inaugurate works of the medical college and multi-speciality hospital to be built in Paderu ITDA limits.