T Govt to double budget allocation for healthcare

Hyderabad, June 20 (INN): Indo-Global Healthcare Summit & Expo on Innovations and Advances kicked off at Taj Group of Hotels here on Thursday.

Panchayat Raj and Information Technology Minister K Tarakarama Rao inaugurated the three-day meet by lighting the lamp. The meet is jointly organised by Indus Foundation, Government of Telangana, Indian Medical Association, Government of Andhra Pradesh, The Federation of AP Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI) and the Indian Pharmaceutical Association.

Addressing the gathering, KTR, who substituted Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao as he was pre-occupied, said that the priority of the Telangana Government was to ensure a better life and alleviation of disease for the people of Telangana.

He said that the government was determined to revamp the public health sector in the Telangana region by ensuring adequate faculty in all the medical colleges. He said efforts were on to get the Medical Council of India renew the recognition of medical college in Nizamabad which was kept on hold due to inadequate faculty.

KTR admitted that except in Hyderabad, there are no better corporate hospitals are available in entire Telangana State. "As you know the development of public health sector is crucial as nearly 85 per cent of the State's population depends on it.

Therefore, our government would ensure sufficient budget allocations are made to government hospitals. Right now it is less than 2 per cent of our budget allocation, which we would like to double.

The government is also aware that certain governments allocate more than 10 per cent of the budget. Our government would set a target of at least doubling the present allocation to start with," he said.

The Minister announced that Super Specialty hospitals on the lines of Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences would be set up in all the districts of the State. The Telangana Government will work in tandem with the Central Government to attain the goal of 'Health for all by 2022', he said.

Giving details of the event, US-based Indus Foundation President SB Anumolu said that the Summit and Expo is a unique event for identifying and sharing successful innovative models of healthcare delivery from around the world.

The event is the result of extensive work with healthcare entrepreneurs to understand the needs in healthcare delivery. The event will help professionals, entrepreneurs, industry players, investors and global institutions to collaborate for taking advantage of the latest innovations and advances, he said.

Earlier speaking on the occasion, Dr. Srinubabu Gedela, President of OMICs Group who was recognised as the Scientific Partner of the Indo Global Health Care Summit, said that the conference business world over is worth US $ 300 billion which in rupee value is Rs 1,80,000crore.

In India Conference business is worth Rs 6000 crore. OMICS Group organised 100 plus scientific conference around the world every year, he said. Hyderabad is the Capital of Conference because of affordability, reachability.

However, if more conferences have to come to the state, the Government must reduce taxes. Many developed countries are doing this. And he appealed to the government to look into the same. So that conferences can bring in more investments into the state, he said.

Welcoming the gathering, Dr. Arha, Chairman of Indus Foundation and former Union Secretary, said the Summit is organised in the backdrop of Indian healthcare industry growth at a rapid pace and it is expected to grow from a US $ 70 billion now to US $ 145 in 2017 and to US$ 280 billion industry by 2020. It recorded a phenomenal 12 per cent growth in last 4 years.

Speaking on the sidelines of the conference Dr. Kakarla Subba Rao touched up on the innovations and advances in Healthcare. He defined health as not just lack of disease, but Physical, Mental, Moral, Social and Spiritual well being.

As per the Vision document 2020, the Government's responsibility is to change sickness services to health services by providing: Clean air; Potable water; Nutritious food; Hygiene & sanitation and Healthy environment.

Dr. Kakarla Subba Rao suggested few innovations such as: Universal insurance coverage, Optimum utilization of information technology, Production of indigenous drugs, medical devices & equipments, promotion of telemedicine & consultancy, and medical tourism as solutions to the present sad state of affairs in the healthcare sector.

The Family Physician is a fast vanishing tribe. Patients have hopes, expectations and fears. Establishment of faith and transparency between Doctor and Patient are essential.

Physician has to develop certain skills both in communication and understanding the problems. Trust is to be maintained between patients and doctors. Ethics and confidentiality with humanistic behavior are a must, he opined.