Doctors’ associations of Telangana on Monday highlighted some of the shortcomings in the health budget presented by the government. The fraternity is largely happy with the budget and the allocations made for various initiatives, but pointed out some shortcomings, including neglect of primary health services and no allocation for the health profile, among other issues.
Dr. Mahesh, President, Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA), said, “There is already a shortage of Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and Community Health Centers (CHCs) in the state. Primary care should be the first priority of the government, no consideration has been given to building new centers at the primary healthcare level.” He also said that the health profile program has also been postponed. The pilot project was started in Mulugu after the high number of people suffering from non-communicable diseases was detected.
Apart from this, there is a huge allocation for the maintenance of government hospitals. He said that it would witness middle class and even upper class people flocking to government hospitals as their fear of unhygienic conditions would be removed through this allotment.
Indian Medical Association (IMA) Telangana State President Dr BN Rao said, “The allocation of funds for health care in the Telangana budget is a positive step towards improving public health. The construction of new medical and nursing colleges is also a positive sign.” However, the lack of qualified teaching staff will affect education and training. Thus, it is important that the government provides adequate training resources to those institutions. If this does not happen, the doctors graduating will not be of the proper standard, Which will have an adverse effect on public health.Apart from this, quality training should also be given to the paramedical staff.
Dr. Rao said that induction of fresh medical graduates and providing them employment with good remuneration would be a big step towards ending quackery.
The government’s priority is high on tertiary care hospitals, as promised in the previous year. Earlier the medical fraternity felt that the allocation for health in last year’s budget itself was a big jump and they were not sure whether there would be an increase or not, but this year everyone’s expectation is 924 crores. There is an increase of Rs. said Dr. Kiran Madala, HOD, Critical Care, Government Medical College, Nizamabad.