Hyderabad, Mar 26 (TNT): Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday outlined his government’s healthcare initiatives and financial commitments in the Assembly, asserting that significant funds have been allocated for the welfare of the poor.
The Chief Minister said that until December 6, 2023, an average of ₹89 crore per month was being spent under the Aarogyasri scheme.
He dismissed allegations that private hospitals were shutting down due to pending dues, terming them as “false propaganda”.
He stated that the previous BRS government had left substantial arrears under Aarogyasri, adding that his government had cleared a large portion of the dues while also enhancing the scheme’s coverage from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
According to him, dues amounting to ₹627 crore were pending as of December 7, 2023. Since then, the government has paid ₹2,408 crore under the scheme, including ₹927 crore to government hospitals and ₹1,480 crore to private hospitals.
He said only ₹727 crore remains pending and that payments are being made regularly.
Reddy noted that the number of patients availing treatment under Aarogyasri has increased and said misconceptions were being spread regarding payments to hospitals.
Highlighting reforms in the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF), he said irregularities had occurred in the past, but the introduction of an online application system has eliminated misuse. So far, ₹2,046 crore has been disbursed under the fund, he added.
The Chief Minister said the government has spent ₹4,500 crore overall on healthcare for the poor, including ₹2,400 crore under Aarogyasri.
Pointing to gaps in medical infrastructure, he said that although the state has 35 medical colleges, teaching hospitals are not receiving adequate patient inflow. The government is planning to direct Aarogyasri patients to these hospitals and allocate funds from both Aarogyasri and CMRF to improve their functioning.
He also said hospital administration may be entrusted to Group-I officers to strengthen management.
As part of welfare measures, Reddy announced that Indiramma Life Insurance would be extended to 1.15 crore families based on caste census data, ensuring financial security.
The Chief Minister further said that a dedicated platform is being developed to connect with thousands of doctors from the state working abroad, enabling them to provide services in local hospitals during their visits.
He announced that TIMS hospitals in Warangal, Alwal, LB Nagar and Sanath Nagar would be upgraded into specialised hospitals, with funds allocated through Aarogyasri and CMRF.
A new Osmania Hospital will be constructed in Goshamahal over 30 acres at a cost of ₹3,000 crore, and an additional 10,000 beds will be made available, he said.
Reddy added that the government is correcting past shortcomings and will introduce further reforms in the healthcare sector, which he described as a challenging field.
He emphasised that education and healthcare remain top priorities, assuring that no cuts would be made in funding for the poor and that additional resources would be allocated if required.
TNT TS
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