VIJAYAWADA: Emphasising that a prosperous nation can be built only by healthy citizens, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said the state government is giving top priority to healthcare as part of its vision of creating a healthy, wealthy and happy Andhra Pradesh.
The chief minister stated this while inaugurating the newly established Lalitha PVS Hospital in Guntur district.
Built with an investment in modern medical infrastructure, the 600-bed hospital offers services across 32 medical specialities under one roof. Naidu congratulated the management and expressed the hope that the facility would provide quality healthcare to the poor and middle-class families.
Announcing major healthcare initiatives, the chief minister said the government would soon roll out the ambitious Sanjeevani programme. Currently being implemented on a pilot basis in Chittoor district, the programme aims to provide comprehensive healthcare services through predictive, preventive and curative approaches.
“Sanjeevani will bring advanced medical services closer to people’s homes. Every citizen will have a digital health record, while 42 diagnostic tests will be conducted at the doorstep. The programme will also guide the people on medication and hospital visits,” he said.
Naidu said the state would soon introduce a Universal Health Policy under which each individual would be eligible for free treatment worth up to Rs 2.5 lakh.
Stressing the importance of preventive healthcare, the CM said proper food habits, exercise and a healthy lifestyle were essential to reducing disease burden. “Food itself is medicine and the kitchen is a pharmacy,” he remarked, while cautioning farmers against excessive use of urea and pesticides in agriculture, which adversely affect public health.
Drawing parallels with Hyderabad’s rise as a healthcare destination, Naidu said Andhra Pradesh was striving to attract premier hospitals and promote medical tourism. He called for the establishment of dedicated yoga training cells in corporate hospitals and praised health minister Satya Kumar Yadav for integrating technology with healthcare services.
The CM lauded the Lalitha Group for setting up the advanced medical facility in the Amaravati region instead of metropolitan cities such as Hyderabad or Bengaluru. Spread over seven acres, the hospital will offer specialised services including cardiology, neurology and joint replacement surgeries.
Naidu expressed confidence that Lalitha PVS would emerge as a landmark healthcare institution and strengthen AP’s position as a preferred destination for quality medical treatment.
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