Andhra Pradesh to take up social audit of govt hospitals

Amaravati: In a move to strengthen the public healthcare system, the state government has decided to take up a social audit of the functioning of the government hospitals by the public representatives. MLAs, MPs, and other public representatives have been asked to visit the hospitals and take feedback from the public.

They have also been asked to interact with medical professionals and staff to further strengthen the healthcare services being rendered to the public. The social audit by the public representatives will commence on January, 26.

Doctors and other staff in the hospitals right from the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to the district level hospitals have been directed to mark their attendance thrice a day on the facial recognition system.

"We have appointed separate nodal officers in each district to closely monitor the functioning of the government hospitals as the chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is very particular about extending the best healthcare to the poor," said principal secretary (health) MT Krishna Babu.

He said that stringent action would be taken against those found not discharging their duties as per the job chart. He said that the staff in the hospitals have been directed to be responsible towards the visiting public.

He said that the state government is readying YSR Village health clinics with a cost of Rs 16,500 crore to extend healthcare services right next to the doorsteps of the people. He said that they have filled up nearly 47,000 posts in the government hospitals in the last three years to ensure better services through public healthcare system.

"We are also roping in experts from the private hospitals to render services in remote areas by making them to visit the villages at least a week in a month," explained Krishna Babu.