Make Telangana 100% Covid vaccinated state: Health Minister T Harish Rao

Hyderabad: Minister of state for health Thanneeru Harish Rao has directed the district collectors to set targets by habitations, villages and zones to make Telangana a 100% COVID-vaccinated state as per the aspirations of Chief Minister KCR.

The minister was addressing the district collectors, DMHOs and DCHs in a video conference.

Mr. Rao said that according to the data, there are 2.77 crore people above the age of 18 in the state. So far, 3.43 crore vaccine doses have been administered across the state. Of these, 2.35 crore people received the first dose and 1.8 crore got the second dose. He said around 18.66 lakh eligible people would have to come to COVID vaccine centers to get the second dose. The minister suggested that the cooperation of Panchayati Raj and other departments should be sought to make the vaccination process a success.

The minister directed the district collectors to complete the construction of eight newly-sanctioned medical college buildings by December. He said the capacity of hospital beds affiliated to medical colleges should be increased and added that hostel buildings suitable for student accommodation should be identified.

Mr. Rao said infrastructure and modern equipment have been set up in government hospitals on the instructions of the Chief Minister. However, he said the government has given the district collectors the power to appoint doctors and staff required for the proper use of these facilities. District collectors were directed to take steps to ensure that the equipment available in the hospitals are fully utilized.

He said that 946 types of medical services are being provided free of cost under Arogyasree in government and private hospitals. Besides this, the government has included 646 types of medical services under Aayushman Bharat.

Stating that the Chief Minister will make available Rs. 10,000 crore on medical care, the minister said there will be surprise visits to government hospitals and inspections would be carried out in PHCs and district and medical colleges.

Minister Rao further directed district Collectors, DMHOs and DCHs to monitor the performance of primary, community, area and district hospitals in the districts on a regular basis. He said that work on oxygen plants sanctioned for the hospitals should be completed and suggested that attention should be paid to sanitation.

The video conference was attended by health secretary Sam Rizvi, DPH Dr. G. Srinivasa Rao, DME Dr. Ramesh Reddy, and OSD Dr. Gangadhar.