JP Nadda, Chandrababu Launch 10 Critical Care Blocks, 12 Public Health Labs in AP

Andhra Pradesh has expanded its public healthcare infrastructure with the launch of 10 Critical Care Blocks and 12 Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) at a combined cost of Rs 249 crore. Union Health Minister J P Nadda and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu jointly inaugurated the facilities on Saturday, including the Critical Care Block and IPHL at the Old Government General Hospital in Vijayawada.

The 10 Critical Care Blocks together add 500 beds to the state’s healthcare capacity. The facilities have been equipped to provide advanced emergency and critical care, including intensive care, isolation wards and operation theatres for major and minor surgeries. Services and equipment for specialties such as cardiology, nephrology, neurosurgery and ultrasound have also been provided, while dedicated facilities have been planned for children requiring critical care.

Addressing the gathering in Vijayawada, Nadda said the Covid-19 pandemic had exposed the need to build a stronger and more resilient healthcare system capable of responding to public health emergencies. The Centre subsequently launched the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission in 2021, with a focus on strengthening health infrastructure across the country.

The Union government has earmarked Rs 64,180 crore over five years for strengthening healthcare infrastructure and improving preparedness for pandemics, natural disasters and other emergencies, Nadda said. Andhra Pradesh has been allocated more than Rs 1,271 crore under the mission. The state is developing 23 Critical Care Blocks, 26 IPHLs and 45 Ayushman Arogya Urban Mandirs, besides a wider network of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

Nadda praised Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership and his contribution to the development of both undivided and bifurcated Andhra Pradesh. He also backed the Chief Minister’s proposal for the Amaravati Quantum Bio Valley, saying the Centre would send a technical team to the state to examine the proposal and explore ways to support it at the national level.

Naidu said the NDA government had undertaken several reforms in the healthcare sector and recalled India’s role in supplying vaccines to other countries during the Covid-19 crisis. He said the country had more than doubled the number of medical seats to around 51,000 and highlighted the development of AIIMS Mangalagiri.

The Chief Minister also announced that the Sanjeevani project would soon be launched across Andhra Pradesh to digitise people’s health records. He described the initiative as a potential game-changer for healthcare delivery. The state, he said, was also focusing on training young people in artificial intelligence and promoting medical-device manufacturing through a MedTech Park.

Naidu further stressed the importance of preventive healthcare and encouraged people to adopt healthier lifestyles through yoga, pranayama and meditation. After the inauguration, Nadda and Naidu inspected the newly opened facilities and reviewed their services and infrastructure with officials.