The total budget for the Medical and Health Department is just 3.9 percent of the total budget estimate of ₹2,91,159 crore.
Published Jul 25, 2024 | 5:51 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 25, 2024 | 7:47 PM
Telangana Dy CM and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.
Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu presented the first full-fledged budget in the assembly on Thursday, 25 July where he proposed a budget estimate of ₹11,468 crore for the Medical and Health Department, marking an increase of 25.5 percent for the Financial Year 2024-25.
While the budget estimate for the Medical and Health Department was lower than the budget estimate—₹ 12,161 crore— of the previous BRS government, the revised budget, however, of the KCR government for the Financial Year 2023-24 was ₹9,135 crore, a decrease of 24.8 percent.
Nevertheless, the total budget for the Medical and Health Department is just 3.9 percent of the total budget estimate of ₹2,91,159 crore. In the previous financial year too, the revised budget was just 3.9 percent of the total budget outlay of ₹2,32,017 crore.
While the budget estimate refers to the funds allocated, the revised budget refers to the amount of funds used.
The WHO emphasizes the importance of health spending in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and improving health outcomes and advocates for a minimum of 5 percent of GDP to ensure adequate health services are available.
Criticizing the previous BRS government, the finance minister said that the current medical system is not adequate to meet the needs of the people and that the sector has largely been neglected.
“The previous government could not even pay timely salaries to doctors, nurses, and other government and contractual employees. Even the prestigious Osmania Hospital has been completely neglected. Besides bragging about getting new medical colleges, they have not provided any amenities, necessary resources, or facilities to these colleges,” said Mallu.
He noted that the current Congress government has released all the salary arrears to all employees.
“In the future too, we assure them timely salary payments so that the system works smoothly and effectively. We will also ensure the completion of under-construction super speciality and other hospitals, and nursing and medical colleges. We have sanctioned the necessary teaching and non-teaching staff for the new medical colleges. As soon as our government was formed, we gave appointment orders to 6,956 nurses,” added Mallu.
With the aim of providing timely, effective, and quality health services to all people, the Government of Telangana has taken special measures while formulating the Universal Health Care policy, said the finance minister.
The finance minister listed the steps being taken by the government to ensure better health care:
Further announcing the Digital Health Profile, Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu said, “To make health services accessible to all citizens through modern technology, the government is introducing a system of issuing a digital health profile card to everyone with a unique identification number.”
This new digital approach initiated by the government will make a citizen’s health information available in one place. With this, diagnoses can be made easily, and treatment can be started promptly.
“Dental, eye, ENT, mental health care, and related examinations will be made available to the public in a phased manner,” added the finance minister.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)
