Move awaits cabinet approval and assembly nod

* Telangana government to replace TVVP with a Directorate of Secondary Health to strengthen healthcare delivery.

* Transition ensures timely salaries, health insurance, and improved working conditions for hospital staff.

* The revamped system will streamline patient referrals across Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Care.

* Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) endorses the move as a game-changer for public health in the state.

mahesh avadhutha I hyderabad

The Telangana government is poised to establish a new Directorate of Secondary Health wing under its Medical and Health department, replacing the existing Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad (TVVP). A Health department proposal, cleared by the Finance, Law, and GAD departments, awaits Cabinet approval before amendments can be introduced in the state assembly, likely during the upcoming budget session.

TVVP, established in 1987 by then Chief Minister N. T. Rama Rao with World Bank assistance, has been pivotal in providing inpatient care at District Hospitals, Area Hospitals, and Community Health Centers (CHCs) across the state. While the government currently funds its operations through grants, the semi-government status of TVVP leaves its staff without timely salaries or access to state employee health insurance. 

The proposed transition to the Secondary Health wing addresses these long-standing issues and aligns Telangana's health system with Andhra Pradesh’s upgraded structure.

A boost to Telangana’s healthcare system

Once restructured, the health system in Telangana will follow a three-tiered model: Primary Health Care (PHCs and Urban PHCs), Secondary Health Care (District Hospitals, Area Hospitals, CHCs), and Tertiary Health Care (government medical colleges and hospitals). This layered framework ensures smoother patient referrals—from PHCs for basic consultations to Secondary Health hospitals for specialty treatments and finally to Tertiary Care for advanced care.

The transformation is expected to resolve staffing challenges and attract specialist doctors by offering benefits like regular salaries and health insurance. Currently, only 100 out of 180 hospitals under TVVP have adequate staff, with the rest facing shortages.

The restructured wing will prioritize filling vacant posts, improving patient care quality.The Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) has endorsed this move after a comprehensive study, affirming its advantages for both the healthcare system and employees.

Telangana Government Doctors Association (TGGDA) leaders Dr. B. Narahari and Dr. M. K. Rauf emphasized that this long-awaited reform would streamline operations, improve job satisfaction, and enhance overall health services across the state.

TGGDA President Dr B Narahari stated that this merger was long due as neighboring state Andhra Pradesh already replaced VVP with Secondary Health Care wing. We had been pursuing this issue for a while, he said, expressing hope that the bill would come up in the assembly session soon.

TGGDA State Treasurer and VVP representative Dr M K Rauf said that the transformation of VVP to Directorate of Secondary Health will bring many advantages with doctors and staff set to get salaries on 1st of every month and also they would be eligible for state health insurance.