CM seeks greater roles from government hospitals

HYDERABAD: Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy directed officials to take steps to strengthen role of government hospitals in the Arogyasri scheme.He was reviewing the implementation of Arogyasri scheme with health minister D L Ravindra Reddy, the principal secretary of Medical and Health department and the CEO of Arogyasri Health Care Trust.Currently, only 16% of Arogyasri funds are reaching the government hospitals.He said the public tertiary care hospitals should be strengthened so that they could absorb about 40% of Aarogyasri funds. He suggested that Rs 65 crores from CM Relief Fund be utilised to equip the government hospitals with the required equipment and other essential paraphernalia.This is in addition to Rs 350 crores already approved for strengthening 14 teaching, 17 district and 117 area hospitals in the state.Officials explained to the Chief Minister that about one hundred simple procedures that can be easily performed by competent doctors in government hospitals are being earmarked to be performed in government hospitals in ten districts.Education Fortnight: In the ongoing ‘Education Fortnight’, as many as 3,14,910 children, aged five years and above, were enrolled in 1st class, across the state, so far.In the last five days, the number of out of school children/ dropouts admitted in special training centres, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) etc. is 3,266, number of V class children admitted to VI class is 4,76,707 and the number of VII class children joined in VIII class is 4,17,974.Appreciating the drive, the chief minister on Friday appealed to teachers, officials, public representatives, and parents to participate in the programme. The government is spending Rs 2,500 crore towards infrastructure during the fortnight.Deal for fish farmers sought: Centre Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Arun Yadav called on chief minister at Secretariat here today.During discussions with the Union minister, the chief minister urged the Centre to treat aqua culture on par with agriculture and announce benefits like insurance, credit support etc.