By Prachi Mishra
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Medical and Health, Satya Kumar Yadav, has called on private hospitals to contribute to improving healthcare services for the public. Speaking at the inauguration of the upgraded Peddeswara Healthcare Centre in Vijayawada on Sunday, he emphasized the state government’s commitment to providing quality medical care. The event was attended by Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra, government whip Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, and MLAs Gadde Rammohan Rao and Kamineni Srinivas.
Highlighting Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s initiatives, Yadav stated that a medical assistance program has been launched for economically disadvantaged individuals, offering up to ₹25 lakh in support. The budget allocation for healthcare has been increased to ₹18,500 crore, with 6.5% dedicated to medical services. He noted that under the NTR Vaidya Seva scheme, free medical services are being made available on a large scale.
In a significant move, the minister announced that free cancer prevention services would be extended to 40 million people through government hospitals. Stressing the importance of early detection, he urged women to undergo screenings, citing that 63% of cancer cases are preventable. Cancer screenings for all women above 18 years will commence soon.
Additionally, Yadav disclosed that the Centre had raised its healthcare funding to 12% in the national budget. He also announced that under the State’s ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) project, injections worth ₹45,000 for heart disease would be provided free of charge at all community health centers. These injections have already helped save nearly 1,968 lives across the state.
During a cancer screening awareness program in Yedugundlapadu village, the minister revealed that out of the targeted 4.7 crore people, only 95 lakh had undergone screening in the past three months. Of those tested, over 37,000 showed symptoms of oral cancer, 26,000 of cervical cancer, and 25,000 of breast cancer.
Sharing a personal connection, Yadav mentioned that both his mother and sister succumbed to cancer, reinforcing his dedication to awareness campaigns. He praised actress Gauthami’s NGO, Life Again Foundation, for its role in spreading cancer awareness.
Dr. Pallem Peddeswara Rao, speaking at the hospital’s inauguration, stated that the upgraded facility is now the largest critical care center in the state. Hospital CEO Dr. Akash Pallem reiterated their goal of providing world-class medical care at affordable costs under the slogan “Corporate Quality-Affordable Reality.”