Telangana allocates ₹11,500 crore for health, a decrease of ₹661 crore from FY23

Telangana’s Health, Medical, and Family Welfare Department’s budget outlay for the fiscal year 2024-25 saw a cutback compared to the previous year. The current budget stands at ₹ 11,500 crore, marking a decrease of ₹661 crore from the 2023-24 budget of ₹12,161 crore.

While presenting the budget on Saturday, Finance Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu acknowledged the success of the Rajiv Arogyasree scheme, where the Congress government has doubled the threshold for medical treatment from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh, aiming to alleviate the financial burden on families facing higher medical costs.

Addressing infrastructure concerns, the minister assured that the government would prioritise the completion of super-specialty hospitals, medical and nursing colleges which are currently in various stages of construction. “The Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) is slated for expansion, with the government committing to providing necessary assistance to enhance the institute’s services. Additionally, plans include the construction of a new building for the Osmania General Hospital (OGH),” he said.

Recognising the importance of adequate staffing, the Finance Minister highlighted the government’s efforts to address recruitment issues in the medical and health departments. He said “proper attention was not given by the earlier regime to complete the recruitments on time. On the contrary, we have fast tracked the recruitment and have given appointment letters to 6,956 Nursing officers. The commitment extends to strengthening government hospitals by providing the necessary funds and staffing to ensure uninterrupted services.”

The Finance Minister noted the significance of a healthy population as a valuable asset to the state. Stressing the importance of timely and effective medical treatment, the minister highlighted the state government’s commitment to enhancing the overall well-being of its citizens. The Hindu