The opposition parties on Thursday alleged that the health and medical services were in coma in the State.
The opposition party MLAs slammed the State Government for lack of doctors, medicines and other infrastructure in the public hospitals. TDP deputy floor leader Gali Muddukrishnamma Naidu said that the vacancy of doctors in government hospitals was at least 80 per cent. He said either doctors were not attending the regular duties or the posts have been lying vacant. In some hospitals, he said there was no para-medical staff.
TDP MLA M Narasimhulu said that there was acute shortage of medicines in government hospitals. He even offered to take Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr DL Ravindra Reddy along with him for a surprise inspection to such hospitals. Uma Madhava Reddy complained of lack of emergency services in Bhongir hospital.
MIM MLA Ahmed Balala pointed out that of 107 MPH posts, 87 were lying vacant. CPI floor leader G Mallesh said that the funds meant for medical and health were not reaching the patients. He also alleged that the State Government was deliberately ignoring the sector in order to promote the corporate and private hospitals. MLAs J Rangareddy (CPM), Dr Jaya Prakash Narayana (Lok Satta), Srikhanth Reddy (TDP), Errabelli Dayakar Rao (TDP) and others also criticised the government for the sorry state of affairs in government hospitals.
However, the minister said that the a comprehensive survey was being taken up to identify the lack of medical facilities and infrastructure in the government hospitals across the State. He said the deficiencies would be filled based on the survey report.
The minister also admitted that as against the requirement of 1,892 Primary Health Centres, only 1,624 exist in the State. However, the remaining 137 PHCs were being set up with the approval of 13th finance commission. He said another 120 community hospitals would be set up soon.
Dr Ravindra Reddy said that till 2004, the budget for medical and health services in the State was mere Rs 62 crore. But the Congress government would be spending Rs 362 crore this year. He said about Rs 2 lakh were being sanctioned for each PHC in the State every three months.
Admitting that 652 posts of civil surgeons were vacant in the State, the Minister said that the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission has been asked to fill 252 posts and a notification would be issued soon. The District Collectors too have been authorised to hire 400 doctors on contract basis.
The minister said that the government would take severe action against the doctors who did not join the duties after deputation. (INN)