Arogyasri Has Transformed Health Sector, Says Ysr

Saturday , October 11, 2008

HYDERABAD: The Rajiv Arogyasri scheme has acted as a catalyst to stimulate government hospitals from slumber and has become a change agent, transforming health sector in the State, according to Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
Dr. Y.S.RAJASEKHARA Reddy was speaking at a function after inaugurating three world-class operation theatres for cardio-thoracic surgery at Gandhi hospital.
The ANDHRA PRADESH Chief Minister, who was in an expansive mood, spoke at length about the deep-rooted problems of infrastructure and fund crunch at government hospitals before the universal insurance scheme was introduced. “Could anyone have imagined that Gandhi Hospital can ever be able to conduct nine high-end cardiac surgeries in a day? Just imagine what more can be done in years to come,” he said.
Dr.Y.S.R. Reddy said the introduction of health insurance scheme helped government hospitals to leverage funds for infrastructure development. “The success of Gandhi Hospital in implementing Arogyasri scheme should be a case study for others in the health sector,” he said.1,000 heart surgeries
The hospital now was capable of taking up over 1,000 heart surgeries in a year, thanks to the newly commissioned hi-tech operation theatres. “The fact that Gandhi Hospital has used a part of the money raised from Arogyasri scheme to fund infrastructure is very heartening,” Dr. Reddy said.
The Andhrapradesh Chief MinisterYSR brushed aside rumours that the hospital would be made semi-autonomous. “We accorded such status to hospitals in districts where we were facing shortage of doctors. We are starting 10 dialysis centres in various parts of the State and Gandhi Hospital is one among them,” he informed. Nursing school
On the request of the hospital authorities, Dr. Reddy approved to set up a nursing college on the hospital premises. “We are ready to construct hostels for junior doctors and staff quarters. I just want the doctors of this hospital to rededicate themselves and keep up the good work,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Medical Education and Health Insurance Galla Aruna Kumari, Secunderabad MP Anjan Kumar Yadav, Minister for BC Welfare M. Mukesh Goud and top officials from the Health Department.