AP Govt initiates various health care programmes

M T Krishna Babu, Principal Secretary, Health Medical& Family Welfare Department in Andhra Pradesh, said that the Government has taken various initiatives and commitment to provide quality health care at village level as a preventive measure. Based on the recommendations of the Expert Committee and detailed discussions held with the various NGOs / Stakeholders, steps have been taken by the Government to reduce the load on the Secondary and territory hospitals, he said and added that basing on these recommendations, CM Jaganmohan Reddy has taken various initiatives for strengthening of primary health Care facilities at village level as village is a basic unit. As such, the family physician concept is introducing. Under this programme,  the Medical officer and team shall visit the village health centres twice in a month  to provide quality health care at their villages and also coordinate in referral treatment  and Arogyasri services. The basic structure of primary health care has been revamped and a village health clinic for every 2000 population is envisaged to provide round the clock services at the village level. These clinics were named as Dr YSR Village health clinics. In addition to 6,313 Sub centres, Government of AP has sanctioned 3719 additional Village health clinics totalling 10032, Dr YSR VHCs (10032) and each of these clinics serve 2000 rural population though Government of India indicator is to sanction one Health & Wellness Centre for each village @5000 population.