Naturopathy University in Amaravati and Statewide Free Medical Check-ups Through Aarogya Ratham Mobile Services: CM Naidu

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has reviewed steps to improve healthcare facilities in the state as also reforms in health insurance, establishment of new medical colleges, free medical check-ups, and the development of Yoga and Naturopathy.

To reduce the burden on the poor, the chief minister decided that generic medicines should be made available to patients in every mandal.

At a review meeting with senior health officials held at the secretariat on Monday, the CM announced several decisions related to the sector. He directed officials to immediately grant approvals for the large number of applications received from the BC Corporation to set up Jan Aushadhi stores.

This move would ensure affordable medicines for the poor while also creating significant employment opportunities for BC youths, he said.

The review also discussed providing health insurance coverage up to `25 lakh under the NTR Arogya Seva scheme. Currently, the scheme benefits 1.43 crore families, but the CM instructed officials to expand it to cover 1.63 crore families. Officials informed him that this expansion would benefit 5.02 crore people.

Naidu directed officials to establish a 100-bed hospital in every constituency.

Discussions were also held on the medical colleges under construction in Markapuram, Madanapalle, Pulivendula, and Adoni. At present, the state has 2.24 beds per 1,000 population, while the WHO recommends 3 beds per 1,000. Based on this, an additional 12,756 beds need to be created. The CM asked officials to conduct a detailed study on this.

Naidu emphasized that instead of visiting hospitals after falling ill, people should be encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles to prevent diseases. He asked officials to establish a ‘Yoga Prachara Parishath’ to popularize Yoga and Naturopathy.

Approval was given to recruit 64 members across 3 regional study centers.

The chief minister asked officials to prepare an action plan for setting up a Naturopathy University in Amaravati.

As part of creating health profiles for every citizen, he asked officials to complete the pilot project of free medical check-ups in Kuppam constituency within 45 days. Additional lab testing centers must be set up in Kuppam, Shantipuram, Ramakuppam and other locations, and more sample collection teams must be deployed.

He said officials must provide mobile medical services in every village through ‘Aarogya Ratham’. Uniforms must be introduced for 108 ambulance staff.

The CM also reviewed various types of kits prepared for implementing the NTR Baby Kits scheme and said officials must ensure its rollout at the earliest.

Model City: Meanwhile, Perkins India and LV Prasad Eye Institute came forward to develop Amaravati as a ‘Model Inclusive City’. Representatives from these institutions met the CM and gave a presentation. They stated that their main goal was to align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by ensuring inclusive education, equal rights and accessible infrastructure for all.

Their plans include barrier-free public spaces, inclusive road design, universal access to public transport, development of digital smart infrastructure and inclusive education model school programmes to provide equal learning opportunities for all children and teacher training programmes.

Responding to this, the chief minister suggested that a comprehensive action plan be prepared.