Effort to Reduce Overcrowding in Major Hospitals
Hyderabad: The Telangana government is set to introduce a new referral system aimed at streamlining healthcare services and reducing patient overload at the state’s key tertiary care hospitals, including Gandhi Hospital, Osmania General Hospital, and Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS).
Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha announced the initiative during a review meeting in Hyderabad, emphasizing the need for upgraded infrastructure, enhanced human resources, and improved medical equipment in government healthcare facilities.
Ensuring Doctor Availability & Strengthening Primary Healthcare
Apart from the referral system, the Minister stressed the importance of strict monitoring to ensure that doctors are available during duty hours at all government hospitals.
To enhance accessibility for economically disadvantaged sections, he also highlighted plans to improve diagnostic services and provide hospital superintendents with dedicated funds for maintaining medical tools and equipment.
The government aims to strengthen essential medical services at all levels, including Primary Health Centres (PHCs), urban PHCs, district hospitals, and Community Health Centres (CHCs), ensuring uninterrupted healthcare for all.
Crackdown on Unqualified Practitioners & Referral Malpractices
Meanwhile, the Telangana Medical Council (TSMC) has issued notices to 40 doctors allegedly accepting patient referrals from unqualified practitioners (quacks). As part of an intensified crackdown, the council is investigating cases where doctors collaborated with quacks by offering referral fees for complicated cases.
With these reforms, Telangana aims to enhance healthcare accessibility, ensure accountability among doctors, and prevent unethical medical practices, thereby improving public health outcomes in the state.
