The Telangana government has unveiled its budget for the fiscal year 2025-26, showcasing a significant commitment to enhancing the healthcare sector within the state. With a total allocation of ₹12,393 crore for the Health, Medical and Family Welfare department, this year’s budget reflects an increase of ₹925 crore (8%) over the previous year. This funding aims not only to expand healthcare access but also to improve medical education and infrastructure, signalling a robust approach to public health in the region.
Budget Highlights
Increased Health Funding
– Total Allocation: ₹12,393 crore
– Previous Year’s Allocation: ₹11,468 crore
– Percentage Increase: 8%
– Comparison with 2023-24: The current allocation exceeds the ₹12,161 crore budgets for the previous fiscal year under the BRS government.
Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka articulated the government’s vision to strengthen healthcare services, emphasizing the importance of timely releases of state shares to maximize financial support from the central government.
Aarogyasri Scheme
The state has notably enhanced its Aarogyasri scheme, disbursing an impressive ₹1,215 crore since December 2023. This scheme is crucial as it aims to provide uninterrupted healthcare access to approximately 2.84 crore citizens, significantly increasing the annual health insurance limit to ₹10 lakh per family, doubling the previous limit.
Dialysis and Critical Care Services
A remarkable initiative in this budget is the expansion of free dialysis facilities:
– Current Centres: 102
– New Centres Sanctioned: 95
– Beneficiaries: Over 1 lakh patients
– Financial Relief: Alleviation of the financial burden by ₹948 crore
Moreover, the medical emergency response has improved with the introduction of 136 new ambulances in mandals that previously lacked such services.
Medical Education Advancement
The Telangana budget allocates resources for medical education, aiming to bridge the gap in healthcare professionals:
– New MBBS Seats: 400 in newly established medical colleges.
– Nursing Colleges: 16 additional institutions sanctioned.
– Allied Health Sciences Colleges: 28 districts benefiting from the establishment of new colleges, allowing for the training of 2,640 new students annually.
Infrastructure Developments
A key focus of the budget is the upgrade and construction of vital healthcare infrastructure:
– Osmania General Hospital (OGH): ₹2,700 crore earmarked for the construction of a modern medical facility on a 27-acre site in Goshamahal, Hyderabad, supplementing the long-awaited refurbishment of the century-old institution.
Recent Achievements
The health department reported several successes, including:
– Institutional Deliveries: 97% success rate, improving maternal and neonatal care.
– Anaemia Mukt Bharat programme: Performance rating of 79.6, with best-performing districts reporting over 90% coverage.
– Immunization Success: 5.7 lakh beneficiaries fully immunized between April 2024 and January 2025.
-Raja Aditya
