The Telangana government will start diagnostic centres in 19 district headquarters and in major government hospitals from Monday, with the move paving the way for people to get many diagnostic tests, including for Covid-19, done free of cost.

While treatment for Covid-19 is free at government hospitals, patients often have to get several medical tests done at private diagnostic centres which charge hefty fees, increasing the financial burden on the economically backward people.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had earlier directed health officials to set up the diagnostic centres at identified places so that eligible beneficiaries can get a battery of tests done, including blood and urine analysis, tests to determine diabetes and hypertension, as well as for diseases of liver, kidney, thyroid, lungs and even cancer, free of cost.
At a Covid review meeting on Saturday, Rao said that the cost of diagnostic tests leads to heavy economic burden on the people and therefore government diagnostic centres should be set up at district headquarters and at major government hospitals.

‘Medical investigations for different diseases are an important part of treatment now. Now, Covid patients have to undergo a lot of tests. The government doctors write prescriptions but patients often have to go to private clinics to get tested, spending a lot of money. This has led to heavy financial burden on the poor,” the CM said.

Health department officials said that 57 types of tests would be conducted at these centres, which include investigations for Covid-19. The list includes blood and urine tests as well as medical investigations for diabetes, hypertension, cardiac ailments, orthopaedic diseases, liver, kidney and thyroid-related X-ray.

The CM said that besides the common tests, certain special investigations which are expensive would also be done at these centres free of cost. He added that the test reports will be delivered directly to the registered mobile numbers of patients.

Rao further said that very expensive equipment with state-of-the-art technology has been installed at these centres. Such costly equipment has been available till now only in private hospitals and in major government hospitals like Gandhi, Osmania and NIMs, he added.

Among the testing equipment that have been installed are fully automatic immunoassay analyser, five-part cell counters, fully automatic urine analysers, machines for ECG, 2-D Echo, ultrasound, digital X-Ray, CT scan and other imaging testing units. These equipment work very fast and produce 400 to 800 reports per hour.

The CM said the government has ensured that adequate pathologists, microbiologists, radiologists and other staff needed to conduct the tests are posted at these centres.

Elaborating further, the CM added, ‘For medical treatment, medical expenses that patients have to bear include transport costs to reach the hospital, doctor’s fee, cost of medicines and diagnostic tests, expenses in the in-patient ward and also transport charges to come back home after discharge. In case of death, there are also funeral expenses. The government is bearing all these expenses and offering free treatment in government hospitals.’

He added, ‘The government runs 428 ambulances under the 108 ambulance service. Moreover, 300 vehicles are already in operation under the Amma Vodi Scheme, which provides free transport cost to pregnant women when they travel to hospitals and come back home after delivery. In the diagnostic centres which are starting from Monday, the government has made arrangements for poor patients availing treatment under the PHCs on the doctor’s advice to get their samples sent to the nearest centre. This will ensure that samples are tested on time and reports delivered quickly.’
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Hyderabad: The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted that Telangana may continue to witness rainfall in the next three days. The weather department in its bulletin have mentioned that several districts have witnessed signs of monsoon arrival resulting.

Due to the heavy rains electricity was disrupted in various districts namely Narayanpet, Gadwal, Wanaparty, Nagarkurnool, Mahbubnagar, Vikarabad, Sanga Reddy, Nalgonda, Khammam, Ranga Reddy, Hyderabad, Medchal and Malkajgiri.

Concerned authorities have also received complaints of water stagnation in low lying areas whereas suburban areas of the city have recorded drop in temperatures.
Due to the continuous rainfall, the state government instructed the district collectors to take necessary steps to safeguard the godowns which stores the agricultural produce and to ensure the farmers products are safe.

According to the weather department Mahbubnagar district received the highest rainfall. Kakatiya Hills, Madhapur, Chandanagar, Khwajaguda, Gachibowli and other places recorded more than 50mm of heavy rainfall in the GHMC limits while suburban areas Medchal, Malkajgiri and AS Rao Nagar also recorded rainfall.

Chief Minister’s consultation with officials, anticipation of change of several Seoul service officials
Hyderabad: Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao has started preparations for a major change in governance. Last year, the last change of administration was the transfer of 50 officials. Now that the state election process has been completed, the Chief Minister wants to form his team with a view to winning the December 2023 Assembly elections to ensure effective implementation of government schemes. The appointment of Somesh Kumar to the post of Chief Secretary without seniority has angered IAS officials. There are many officials who are many years older than Somesh Kumar but the Chief Minister ignored the seniority and promoted Somesh Kumar to the post of Chief Secretary. According to reliable sources, the Chief Minister may try to quell the resentment by appointing angry officials to key positions through a change in governance. After the budget meeting in March, the chief minister had decided to transfer IAS and IPS officials, but the decision was postponed due to the gravity of the situation in Corona and the local body elections in April. The chief minister is said to be dissatisfied with the performance of some officials. Such officials will be given unimportant postings. It is learned that Commissioner GHMCDS Lokesh Kumar will be replaced by another official as several complaints have been received from public representatives about Lokesh Kumar’s performance in recent times. Since KT Rama Rao is the Minister for Municipal Administration, a dynamic official can be appointed to better assist him. It is learned that last year, several complaints were lodged against Lokesh Kumar in connection with the relief work among the flood victims. KT Rama Rao directed all the zonal commissioners to launch a massive spraying campaign in the city during the Corona epidemic. Sources said that changes will also be made in the departments of Agriculture, Electricity, Irrigation and Seoul Supplies. The government is also looking for a senior official for the education department as Special Chief Secretary Chitra Ramachandran retired on April 30 on a stipend and Sandeep Kumar Sultaniya was given extra responsibility. A young IAS officer may be appointed to the post of Commissioner in HMDA. Chief Secretary Sumesh Kumar oversees key departments such as Land Revenue, Stamp and Registration, Excise and Commercial Taxes. As the Chief Minister has focused on the said departments, Sumesh Kumar may be removed from additional responsibilities and other officials may be appointed. The posts of District Collectors for Bhopal Pali, Kata Goram, Malkajgiri and Adilabad are vacant. The government can make drastic changes in the posts of collectors. In addition, changes are expected in the positions of Police Commissioners and Superintendents of Police.

HYDERABAD: The proposed political outfit of YS Sharmila, sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, will be named ‘YSR Telangana Party’. As president of the party, Vaduka Rajagopal filed an application with the Election Commission of India (ECI), seeking its registration.

According to an ECI notification, the last date for filing objections, if any, to the registration of the YSR Telangana Party is June 16, 2021. YS Vijayamma, honorary president of the YSR Congress Party, has already informed the Commission that she has no objection.

TAGS :YS SharmilaYSR Telangana PartyJagan Mohan Reddy

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