Govt to modernise primary health centres across state

Vijayawada: Health and family welfare minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav told the assembly on Monday that state govt has decided to strengthen and upgrade all primary health care centres by completing the works left unfinished by the previous YSRCP regime. He said the previous govt squandered the funds in the guise of renovation of hospitals and left many of the works in the middle without clearing the dues.

Responding to queries of members during question hour, Satya Kumar promised to take all possible measures to complete the ongoing renovation works in the PHCs. He said chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed them to give high priority to provide the best healthcare services to the poor through PHCs and also village clinics.

"The previous YSRCP govt could not even properly utilise the XV finance commission grant to complete the proposed projects. They proposed various works in 1,128 PHCs worth 670 crore between 2019 and 2024. However, they could only complete works worth 426 crore out of the proposed 670 crore and cleared bills of only 250 crore, leaving behind unpaid dues of 175 crore," he alleged, adding that the previous govt repeatedly issued GOs from 2021 to 2024 to renovate the same PHCs without releasing a penny.

He said chief minister Naidu reviewed the progress of various PHCs, CHCs, and district hospitals and directed them to take up the works on priority basis.

Govt is also negotiating with the Centre to complete some of the projects, while planning to tap the PM Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Fund to complete the infrastructure in village clinics, he informed.