Telangana health department takes multiple initiatives to boost health infra

HYDERABAD: Over the past three years, the health dept has taken multiple initiatives to boost health infra in Telangana. With non-communicable diseases on the rise, NCD clinics have been established in all districts, providing comprehensive care to nearly 50 lakh patients dealing with conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer.

To tackle the growing cancer burden, estimated at around 60,000 new cases annually, the govt has decentralised services by setting up day-care cancer centres in district headquarters, enabling patients to access chemotherapy locally without travelling to Hyderabad. Plans are also underway to establish four regional cancer care centres.

For renal care, 16 new dialysis centres and 120 additional beds have been added over the past two years, taking the total to 102 centres, with 79 more planned. Officials said that the aim is to ensure a dialysis facility every 25 km, reducing travel time and delays in treatment.

For transgender people, the health dept has set up Maitri Clinics in all the districts to provide dedicated healthcare, counselling and support services for the transgender community, including free gender-affirming surgeries at Osmania General Hospital (OGH). Geriatric clinics are being introduced across govt hospitals to cater to the elderly.

In reproductive health, free IVF services are being offered at centres in Gandhi and Petlaburj hospitals, with another facility coming up in Warangal. Over 25,000 patients have availed themselves of services in the past two years, resulting in 202 successful pregnancies so far.

Additionally, a pain clinic has been launched at Osmania Hospital for chronic pain management. Emergency response has also been strengthened under with 213 new ambulances deployed - one for each mandal - bringing down response times to 14 minutes in tribal areas and 13 minutes in rural regions.