Efforts to ensure better healthcare yielding positive results in Andhra Pradesh, says Health Minister Satya Kumar

The efforts to ensure better delivery of healthcare services to the public at their doorstep during the past one year have yielded positive results, according to Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav.
In a five-page report submitted to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on the performance of the department, Mr. Satya Kumar, who had taken charge on June 16, 2024, said these efforts were reflected in increased accountability of those involved in the health sector, regular monitoring and quantification of performance at all levels.
In the report that was submitted on June 16 and released to the media on Tuesday, the Minister wrote that at first, he had noticed high degree of absenteeism on the part of doctors, para-medical and other supporting staff, lack of accountability and performance.
'Much of these have seen improvement, including attendance, volume of outpatient and inpatient services, public perception about government hospitals,' he noted.
The Minister reported to the Chief Minister about large-scale irregularities in governance, including recruitments, during the tenure of the previous government. To support his statement, he referred to the selection lists at the district level being prepared by some Ministers instead of by the Collectors concerned.
'Zero political interference'
'The present government has taken up recruitment of over 8,000 doctors and other health professionals during the last one year, with zero political interference and without any other considerations. Tenders for various works and procurement are being decided strictly as per stipulated procedure,' the Minister said.
Mr. Satya Kumar said performance monitoring and incentivising good work had been given priority, while postings and transfers of District Medical and Health Officers, District Coordinators of Health Services, Superintendents of Government General Hospitals and principals of Government Medical Colleges had been done in an unbiased manner.
Central funds
'The efforts have resulted in increased scale of sanction of funds and facilities,' he said. Listing them out, the Minister said the Centre had sanctioned 3,318 buildings for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs at a cost of ₹1,065 crore, 10 Critical Care Blocks, 13 Integrated Public Health Labs, ₹80 crore for AYUSH services, ₹90 crore for strengthening food quality testing laboratories, etc.
The Minister added that the Central government also released ₹100 crore as Performance Incentive for effective implementation of National Health Mission (NHM) in the State.
More needs to be done to realise 'Arogyandhrapradesh', Mr. Satya Kumar said.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Hindu

34 minutes ago

• The Hindu

Work begins on Urban Primary Health Centre building in Nagapattinam after much delay

Construction work for a new Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) building on Marundhu Kothalam Road in Nagapattinam has finally begun, following the demolition of the old and damaged structure last week. This comes after several representations made by residents and civic groups. Two years ago, the UPHC was temporarily shifted to a Health and Wellness Centre on Pazha Street in Ward 30, after the old building was declared unsafe. The temporary location — situated on a narrow and congested stretch — met with criticism because of water stagnation and poor road condition, which made it challenging for patients to reach the facility. Although ₹1.2 crore had been sanctioned under the National Health Mission, the demolition and reconstruction work faced significant delays. Lack of progress prompted several appeals from residents, civil society organisations, and political representatives urging the authorities to expedite the work. K. Venkadesan, town secretary of the CPI(M), said this was the only UPHC serving Nagapattinam town. 'The delay has caused great hardship to the public. The construction must be completed at the earliest without excuses,' he said. Officials from the Health Department said the construction was now under way and was expected to be completed within six months.

Hindustan Times

43 minutes ago

• Hindustan Times

Nagaland pharmacy association appeals to state govt for policy review claiming pharmacist shortage

Kohima, The All Nagaland Pharmacy Association has urged the state government to reconsider the strict enforcement of rules mandating registered pharmacists in all pharmacies, warning that the move could lead to widespread closures and disrupt healthcare access across Nagaland. At a press conference in Kohima on Friday, ANPA president Zhapuvilie Yashü and general secretary Limayanger Jamir said that although they respect and are willing to comply with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, and Pharmacy Act, 1948, the shortage of qualified pharmacists makes full implementation currently unfeasible. Quoting official data that there are 1,157 licensed pharmacies in Nagaland, Jamir claimed the state has only 278 registered pharmacists, of which, 252 are employed in government facilities, leaving just 26 for private pharmacies. Several districts, including Shamator and Meluri, have no registered pharmacists at all. Phek district, with 34 pharmacies, has only two while even in Kohima, some localities could be left without a single pharmacy if the rule is strictly enforced, he said. "This ratio is grossly disproportionate. Enforcing the rule without practical alternatives will throw the public health system into disarray," Jamir warned. ANPA said the licensing process has long been regulated by the Health & Family Welfare department, with pharmacies regularly paying fees. However, in late 2021, the department began enforcing stricter requirements for pharmacist appointments, it said. Yashu said while some private pharmacies have appointed pharmacists, most cannot do so due to the acute shortage. To address the issue collectively, pharmacy unions were formed in every district and unified under ANPA on March 13 this year, he said. ANPA said that despite repeated appeals to the Principal Director, Health Commissioner, and Health Minister, the association said their requests for a phased implementation or temporary relaxation have not been addressed while a representation to the chief minister is still pending. "If enforced fully, even key areas in Kohima and several districts will be left without pharmacy services," ANPA said. Pointing out that Nagaland is currently the only state in India without a pharmacy institute, ANPA said that even in other states, full enforcement of such policies has been hindered by manpower shortages. They questioned the government's expectations, noting that many government health centres rely on nurses trained for only three months to dispense medicines. "If the government can authorise nurses due to shortages, similar temporary measures should be extended to pharmacies until infrastructure is improved," ANPA argued. While the Drugs Control Administration had renewed licenses until 2028, pharmacies have recently begun receiving show cause notices and cancellation orders from May onwards, they said. ANPA clarified it is not opposing the policy but asking for a practical, state-specific approach that protects public health without disrupting essential services. "Until we have sufficient manpower and our own pharmacy institutions, we request the department to allow pharmacies to continue operating," the association appealed. They assured that if granted a reasonable extension, efforts to appoint registered pharmacists would continue. Meanwhile, Tiatoshi Amer, Controlling & Licensing Authority under the Health & Family Welfare Department, told PTI that the department acted only after repeated notices went unheeded. "We issued public notices and also verbally informed licensees to appoint pharmacists for the welfare of the public," he said. Amer added that the department will not consider an extension as enough time had already been provided, emphasising that public health remains the department's top priority. The officer also asserted that, as per data provided by the department's Pharmacy Cell, there are more than 300 registered unemployed pharmacists in the state, while for the government health units, the vacant posts are being requisitioned annually through the Nagaland Public Service Commission for recruitment.

Time of India

an hour ago

• Time of India

Time Health+; A product that goes beyond monetization, a product that builds a culture that celebrates wellness that is easily accessible

Yoga that aligns with the hustle: Expert-Led Sessions: Comfortable prices: Wellness for Everyone: In an era where work hustle culture inevitably stacks all over mental and physical wellness, eventually drowning into a spiral of burnouts, Times Health+ emerges as the knight in shining armor, reshaping the yoga experience for the up-and-coming digital-first India. Times Health+ is betrothed to technology, offering a platform that is smart and built around an expert-led yoga session that one can access while tangled in their comfortable sheets at a price that defies industry traditional yoga studios, which require one to plan days prior and count hours and minutes to be physically present, Times Health+ offers liberation wherein one could attend live yoga sessions or access recorded ones at their convenience. Regardless of whether the user is a working professional who counts minutes to squeeze in tiny moments of joy, or a student juggling deadlines like there is no tomorrow, or even a retiree seeking mobility support. The platform adapts to their rhythm and not the other way sessions are offered through an easy-to-use digital interface, making yoga a personalized, intuitive, and immediate experience. All the users would need is a stable internet connection and a yoga Health+ offers a curated, expert-led ecosystem designed and conducted by certified professionals like Shynee Narang, Apurva Tilwani, and Yogacharya Surakshit Goswami, ensuring that the guidance is a symbol of authenticity and safe practice. Users are reassured they wouldn't only be following orders but rather be taught proper technique, breathing methods, and alignment tips with every online class. These live classes shall offer real-time engagement, with recorded modules that shall allow the user to return at their own pace and practice whenever convenient. The combination of live and recorded formats promises consistency without rigidity, making an ideal framework for building a sustainable wellness Health+ offers a package that stands apart from the general pricing strategies used by premium wellness programs. The platform has laid out plans starting at Rs. 499 per month, making the yearly expenditure cost Rs. 2999 for a full year of yoga guidance. Apart from affordability being a flag point, the platform highlights its commitment-free wellness, de-shackling the users from pressure and making it truly inclusive. This kind of flexibility opens doors for thousands of people who would like to try adopting yoga into their daily routines for the first time without having to Health+ is a platform that democratizes wellness, no longer shackling its users to yoga studios found in metropolitan cities and luxury retreats. It makes quality yoga sessions as far as their thumb to their screen, whether they reside in Tier 1 or Tier 3 cities and even the rural roots of India, where yoga teachers may not be available that easily. Doing so, Times Health+ becomes a platform much deeper than another product by a renowned organization, for it conceived a culture that celebrates wellness that is slow and pressure-free. The kind that joins hands with technology to bridge the gaping void between ancient practices and modern lifestyles. Where health is a right rather than being a has been transformative from the beginning of time, but Times Health+ makes the transformative experience accessible and easier to begin, aiding a world that craves balance.