The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Union Minister promises better facilities in hospitals

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Sunday, Jun 06, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Union Minister promises better facilities in hospitals

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JUNE 5. The Union Minister of State for Health, Panabaka Lakshmi, has said that she will concentrate on improving facilities in district headquarters hospitals so that medicare could reach rural areas.

Talking to newsmen on her first visit to the city on Saturday after assuming office ten days ago, she said the other stress of the Ministry would be to promote Indian system of medicine such as ayurveda, homoeopathy and sidda. Yoga, which is increasingly gaining importance as a means to achieve health, would also get a boost.

Ms. Lakshmi also admitted that the fee in medical colleges was high. "I will work towards lowering it," she said replying to a question. About inadequate infrastructure in new medical colleges, she said that this aspect would also be looked into as she was yet to get a grip over the subjects tackled by the Ministry.

Ms. Lakshmi exuded confidence of achieving the target to banish polio and leprosy by the year 2005, AIDS by 2007 and filaria by 2008, seven years ahead of the schedule. Similarly the goals regarding removal of cancer and TB would also be achieved.

NIMS upgradation

Ms. Lakshmi announced that the Ministry sanctioned Rs.120 crores for the upgradation of NIMS to the status of AIIMS but this project would not include launching of a medical college.

The three-time winner from Nellore LS constituency(SC), Ms. Lakshmi said she had done her bit for providing better railway and telecommunication facilities, rural roads, drinking water and community hall for people in the constituency.

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