Hyderabad: Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka said that the funding for the medical and health department, which is vital for the underprivileged and middle-class populations, will be given top priority.
He assured that substantial funding would be allocated to the Rajiv Aarogya Sri scheme in the upcoming budget to enhance medical services for the poor and middle-class.
During a pre-budget meeting with officials from the medical, health, science and technology departments, the minister expressed concerns about the neglect of the drugs, food safety, and medical education sectors over the past decade. Along with health minister Damodar Raja Narasimha, he stressed the need to prioritise and improve these three sectors under the public sector.
Plans to modernise the drugs and food safety sectors were also discussed. The ministers said the construction of new medical colleges and hospitals in the state is expected to be completed within the next year. They urged officials to make the most of centrally-sponsored schemes. Additionally, there were plans to establish science and technology planetariums in district headquarters towns.