Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Friday inaugurated nine new medical colleges across the state, marking a major milestone in the state’s healthcare infrastructure.
The colleges, which are located in the districts of Karimnagar, Kamareddy, Khammam, Bhupalpally, Asifabad, Nirmal, Sircilla, Vikarabad, and Jangaon, will have a total of 2,500 MBBS seats. He inaugurated these nine medical colleges on the virtual basis from the Pragati Bhavan.
Speaking on the occasion, CM KCR said that the new medical colleges were a testament to the State Government’s commitment to providing quality healthcare to the people of Telangana. He also said that the colleges would help to create more employment opportunities for the youth.
CM KCR expressed his immense pride in the state government’s achievement of establishing medical colleges in every district of Telangana. He recalled the time when the government was mocked for its ambitious plans, but today, the state has 26 medical colleges, with eight more to be operational by the next academic year. He confirmed that the cabinet had approved the expansion.
Highlighting the growth in medical seats, KCR pointed out that the number of medical seats in Telangana has increased from 2,850 in 2014 to 8,515 by 2023. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the Minister and Secretary of the Medical Department for their tireless efforts. He also emphasized the significance of the government’s victory in getting 85% of medical seats reserved for Telangana’s youth, a decision that was upheld by the High Court. He then revealed his ambitious goal of producing 10,000 doctors every year through both government and private medical colleges.
The Chief Minister expressed his strong belief that doctors from Telangana will be at the forefront of not only the state’s but also the nation’s healthcare infrastructure. He stated that Telangana’s progress is evident in all sectors, from power to agriculture and water resources. He also mentioned that even Palamuru district, which was once known for its porridge centres, now has five medical colleges, which is a significant improvement from the previous number of zero.
Reinforcing the importance of comprehensive healthcare, KCR said that regions with robust healthcare infrastructure inevitably experience fewer fatalities. He emphasized that the state is not only establishing medical colleges but also top-tier hospitals. He proudly pointed out that Telangana is the only state to offer 22 MBBS seats per lakh population. He also mentioned that the state has increased the number of beds from 17,000 to 34,000 since its inception. With six more hospitals underway, the bed count is expected to reach 50,000.
Reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic, KCR acknowledged the critical role of oxygen. He said that the state has learned from the pandemic and is now producing 500 tonnes of oxygen daily under the guidance of Health Minister Harish Rao. The state has also equipped itself for any contingencies by converting 50,000 beds to oxygen-supportive ones and adding 10,000 super-speciality beds.KCR also stressed the rising demand for paramedical personnel and said that every district will soon host nursing colleges and paramedical courses. (INN)