AP to pay Rs. 5,000 to new mothers

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy on 13 June announced that Rs. 5,000 will be given to mothers after delivery. While chairing a review meeting at his camp office in Tadepalli, he directed the health department to bring Arogyasri scheme benefits under direct benefit transfer. This will improve accountability and further streamline the system, leaving no chance for loopholes, he said. The amount will be disbursed directly to the patient and to the hospital on auto-debit mode with their consent.

Additional facilities under Arogyasri

Jagan said the state's Arogyasri covers 2,446 procedures with 32 specialty treatments compared to the Central government's health insurance Ayushman Bharat which has 25 specialty procedures. He directed the officials to increase the number of procedures under Arogyasri, including the specialty treatments.

The state government has been spending around Rs. 3,600 crores per year to improve the health sector, which includes Arogyasri, Arogya Asara, and EHS, while the Centre spent around Rs. 220 crores last year and proposed to spend Rs. 360 crores in 2022, Jagan said.

The officials told the Chief Minister that the state has been spending in a month what the Centre had spent for the whole year in 2021. Meanwhile, the health department was directed to finish all pending works of YSR Health Clinics, YSR Urban Health Clinics, and Public Health Centres (new and renovation) on or before December 2022.

Admissions to medical colleges

The officials informed the Chief Minister that five teaching medical colleges-cum-hospitals – Vizianagaram, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Machilipatnam, and Nandyal – would start admissions from the 2023 academic year if all regulation applications go through.

Facility for cancer patients

Reviewing the Comprehensive Cancer Care Treatment in the state, the Chief Minister noted that all teaching medical colleges – established and upcoming ones – should have a facility to treat the patients. He said the state has been improving the health sector so that cancer treatment is available to patients within a 50-km radius and they do not have to go outside the state for advanced treatment.

Jagan also discussed the procurement of hi-tech equipment to treat cancer patients in the state. Prevention and early deduction with proper treatment are important to contain the disease. The state has been trying to address these issues starting with village clinics, the CM said. In addition to this, the CM said all 27 medical colleges, including the 16 newly-established colleges, should have two LINAC machines for cancer prevention.

COVID-19 situation

The COVID-19 daily positivity rate in the state stands at 0.74. Noting that the precautionary dose percentage among senior citizens is low compared to other age groups, the Chief Minister asked officials to address the issue.