Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government has announced the establishment of eight new Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) in government hospitals across the state, enhancing neonatal healthcare infrastructure and capacity. The initiative, unveiled by Health, Family Welfare, and Medical Education Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, aims to add 80 new beds (warmers) to the system.
According to official reports, each SNCU will cost around ₹60 lakh, bringing the total investment for all eight units to approximately ₹4.80 crore. The monthly operational cost is projected at ₹8.91 lakh per unit, translating to around ₹1.07 crore collectively.
The Health Minister stated that the new SNCUs will be run under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Four of these units—at Amalapuram Area Hospital, Kuppam Area Hospital, Guntakal Area Hospital, and Yemmiganur Community Health Centre—are expected to become operational by the end of the month. The remaining units at Nuzvid, Kavali, Kadiri, and Srikalahasti will commence services shortly thereafter.
Currently, Andhra Pradesh operates 62 SNCUs, out of which 28 are managed by the government. These facilities are distributed across teaching, district, and area hospitals, as well as community health centres (CHCs). Of these, 11 units have 10 warmers each, while 23 units are equipped with five warmers, providing vital emergency neonatal care to infants.
Minister Yadav also highlighted that neonatal centres have already been established in Anakapalli, Prathipadu, Hindupur, and Nandyal. The SNCUs cater to newborns up to 28 days old, treating critical conditions such as low birth weight, neonatal jaundice, hypothermia, respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and sepsis.
The state’s continued investment in neonatal and maternal care reflects its commitment to reducing infant mortality and improving healthcare access in rural and urban regions alike.
