22 health based projects to be inaugurated in ap

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh is set to strengthen its emergency healthcare and disease surveillance infrastructure with the inauguration of 22 health projects worth Rs.249.50 crore on Saturday.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate the projects, Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav said on Friday. The projects, taken up under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, comprise 10 Emergency Care Centres built at a cost of Rs.234.50 crore and 12 Integrated Public Health Laboratories established at Rs.15 crore.

The 10 emergency centers will add 500 beds to the State’s healthcare system. The Minister said the facilities were designed to provide prompt treatment for life-threatening conditions while also serving as dedicated centers during pandemics, disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies. Recalling the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr. Satyakumar said general hospital wards had to be converted into Covid wards, affecting routine medical services for other patients.

The new infrastructure would enable the State to handle emergencies without disrupting regular healthcare services, he said. The emergency centers will provide treatment for conditions including heart attacks, strokes, chronic respiratory diseases, severe breathing difficulties, poisoning and serious blood infections. Emergency services for mothers and children and dialysis-related care will also be available.

The 10 centers being inaugurated are located at government medical colleges in Kadapa, Nellore, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Ongole, Rajamahendravaram, Kurnool and Vijayawada, besides district hospitals in Anakapalli and Hindupur. The State has been sanctioned 24 Emergency Care Centers at a total cost of Rs.600.35 crore. Once all 24 are completed, they will provide 1,275 additional emergency beds. The remaining 14 centers are targeted for completion by April 30, 2027.

The 12 Integrated Public Health Laboratories being inaugurated have been established at Rs.1.25 crore each, with Rs.40 lakh spent on construction and Rs.85 lakh on equipment. The laboratories are located at Seethampeta, Guntakal, Palamaner, Aganampudi, Nandigama, Chirala, Araku, Narasaraopet, Banaganapalle, Anaparthi, Tuni and Gudur. The facilities will serve as district-level centres for disease diagnosis and public health testing. They will strengthen surveillance by enabling early detection of disease outbreaks, testing of samples and prompt public health interventions based on laboratory results.

The State is establishing 26 such Integrated Public Health Laboratories, of which 14 are already operational and the remaining 12 are now ready for inauguration. Minister Satyakumar said the State had accelerated implementation of the health infrastructure mission. While only Rs.28.85 crore was spent between 2019 and 2024, expenditure since June 2024 had reached Rs.229.29 crore, nearly eight times higher. He said the government was focusing on bringing quality public healthcare closer to people while strengthening the State’s preparedness to respond to health emergencies.