Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad   

Round-the-clock tele-medicine on ‘104’

HYDERABAD: The State Government proposes to introduce round-the-clock tele-medicine on a toll free phone number, 104, said Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Doctors will take preliminary complaints from patients online as part of the service. They will counsel patients on the care to be taken, Dr. Reddy said after inaugurating the golden jubilee block on the campus of AMR – Andhra Pradesh Academy of Rural Development (APARD) at Rajendranagar here on Saturday.

He said the facility would also be integrated with visits to villages by doctors and para-medical staff of Primary Health Centres (PHCs). The teams will follow up the complaints received on 104 during their field visit. The Government will ensure that the staff at PHCs visit villages in their respective jurisdiction once a month. The norm is not being followed presently, he added.

Dr. Reddy also said the Government proposed to introduce SMART cards for distribution of pensions.

The objective is to see that the pensioners receive the money on the first day of the month. The number of pensioners will go up from 46 lakh now to 60 lakh by April – May. He declared the Government’s intentions to raise the limit of insurance coverage under the Rajiv Arogyasri scheme. Surgeries of heart, kidney, brain and cancer would also be covered by it in future.

Panchayat Raj Minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy said the Chief Minister gave approval for release of Rs. 147.5 crore as incentive to gram panchayats that were elected unanimously in 2006.

The devolution of powers to local bodies in respect of ten departments as ordered by the Government recently is expected to come into effect from April 1.

Similar orders for Women and Child Welfare Department would be issued before the commencement of budget session of the Assembly.

Rural Development Minister G. Chinna Reddy said it is decided to upgrade the Swami Ramananda Teertha Institute for Rural Development at Bhoodan Pochampally in Nalgonda district into a rural university. It will coordinate with five regional rural development institutes in various parts of the State.

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