Andhra plans satellite AIIMS centers for special medical care

In view of the poor condition of the Super Speciality Hospital Anantapur, health minister Satya Kumar Yadav has proposed the start of satellite institutes of AIIMS on lines that would ensure quality medical aid.

The hospital was ambitiously planned as an AIIMS, but the state bifurcation limited it to a Super Speciality Hospital for the Rayalaseema region.

Sources said the health minister planned to strengthen medical facilities across the state through reforms at various levels. The Anantapur Super Speciality Hospital, was made a part of the state bifurcation packages to serve the Rayalaseema districts, while the AIIMS was diverted to the coastal region.

The 200-bed-super speciality hospital with four floors was designed to have eight special wings – cardiology, neurology, nephrology, medical gastroenterology and surgical gastroenterology, along with allied departments.

As per the proposals of a team of experts from the GGH here, 179 posts of professors and assistant professors along with 280 nursing and non-technical staff are sought for the super speciality hospital.

The hospital was upgraded to a Government Medical College under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) under its phase-III.

The hospital was established to offer top medical facilities for patients from the region instead of them having to depend on corporate hospitals in Bengaluru city or elsewhere.

In view of the necessity for quality medical aid for people of the Rayalaseema region, in particular Anantapur and Satya Sai districts, the health minister has directed his department to prepare for the start of Satellite Centres to connect with AIIMS, sources said. Deccan Chronicle