Pradeep Vennelakanti Tirupati

Rayachoticonstituency in Annamayya district is set to receive a major boost in healthcare after the coalition government sanctioned nearly Rs 32 crore for hospitals, rural health centres and emergency medical infrastructure. The biggest project is a 50-bed critical care block, approved at an estimated cost of Rs 23.75 crore.

The facility will be built alongside the existing 100-bed Area Hospital in Rayachoti to strengthen emergency and critical care services. Once operational, it is expected to reduce the need for patients to travel to Kadapa, Tirupati and Bengaluru for advanced treatment.

Minister for Transport Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, who represents the constituency in Assembly, played a key role in securing funds to improve access to modern healthcare facilities across the constituency.The government has also approved 17 healthcare infrastructure projects worth Rs 29.224 crore, including 12 rural health centres, three Block Public Health Units, one Integrated Public Health Laboratory and the Critical Care Block. The projects aim to improve healthcare services in both rural and urban areas by strengthening medical infrastructure.

To improve primary healthcare, Rs 25 lakh has been sanctioned for repair and renovation of Ramapuram Primary Health Centre (PHC). In Lakkireddipalli, the government has approved Rs 30 lakh for the construction of a new homeopathy building under AYUSH department. In addition, infrastructure works, including a cement road and compound wall, have been completed at the Lakkireddipalli Government Hospital at a cost of Rs 36 lakh. Officials said fresh funding has revived several healthcare projects that had remained incomplete due to a shortage of funds.

These works are expected to be completed in phases. Under National Health Mission (NHM), Rs  81 lakh has been sanctioned for the development of six rural health centres to improve infrastructure and primary healthcare services. Another Rs 82 lakh has been allocated under the 15th Finance Commission for three healthcare infrastructure projects.

Commenting on the development, Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy said the new critical care block would provide timely emergency treatment to people in Rayachoti and nearby areas. He said the government would continue its efforts to bring more medical institutions, specialist doctors and advanced healthcare facilities to the constituency, ensuring better medical services for residents.