VISAKHAPATNAM: The chief minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said that his government’s main focus is to strengthen the health delivery system at the village level and concentrate on preventive health.
The state government gives the highest priority to providing health care facilities to the common man and has been spending 7.3% of the state budget on health care compared to the National average of approximately 4%.
He said that state stands first in the creation of Ayushman Bharat Health Account numbers (ABHA id) for 72% of the population and is successful in screening the population for Non-communicable Diseases. AP stands first in Tele-consultations with a video calling facility with an average of 60000 calls each day.
Initially, CM Jagan was scheduled to address the gathering in virtual mode. But it has not come into reality. He addressed the gathering of more than 500 delegates, including 100 eminent doctors of Indian Origin in America and 300 specialists from India on the first day of the 3-day Global Health Summit (GHS) organized by the Association of American Physicians of India Origin (AAPI) here on Friday through a message of him read by state health minister Vidadala Rajani. The CM said that in order to improve territory health care facilities, the government-sanctioned 17 new medical colleges, ensuring at least one medical college in each of the district government sectors.
He said the state government initiated a novel Family Physician Program wherein one of the doctor from PHC visit each Village Health Clinic twice a month as per a fixed schedule to take care of Out Patients, Antenatal, Post-natal check-ups, screening, diagnosis, and treatment for various Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) apart from visiting Anganwadi centers and schools.
CM Jagan Mohan Reddy said that the government had recruited 47,191 staff including specialists and super-specialists during the last two and half years. The government gives the highest priority to providing treatment free of cost to almost 85% of the population under Dr. YSR Arogyasri's program, he added.
The 3-day summit’s main is focusing on Mental Health, Nephrology, Maternal and Child Health, Oncology, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Cardiology, and Ophthalmology. Discussion on various new procedures, technology in treatment, and others would be discussed at the summit.
CM Jagan said that this platform will bring together the best brains in the field of health and the deliberations will provide innovative solutions for the challenges being faced by humankind. it will be very much useful for the exchange of technology, ideas, and advances in various fields of health care. The Physicians from India have contributed greatly to the health care of advanced countries especially the US and Europe.
He requested the doctors’ fraternity to participate in government efforts in making available the best world-class health facilities to the common man to give confidence that the government is solidly behind them during any health emergency. “I am asking our officers to work out collaborations in various fields for training the staff at various levels, getting the latest technology and treatment procedures and also guidance in the improvement of health care facilities,” he said.
Health minister Vidadala Rajani elaborated on the medical schemes introduced by the government and also the implementation of various programs for the people. She along with the Industries and IT minister Gudivada Amarnath released souvenirs of AAPI. Ministers appreciated the organizers for choosing Vizag as a venue for their summit. Dr. Ravi Kolli, President, AAPI, Dr. T. Ravi Raju, Chair GHS 2023, India, Dr. Prasad Chalasani, Chair GHS 2023, USA and Dr. Anjana Samaddar, President-Elect of AAPI, district collector and others participated.
