Telangana government to assess gaps in state's secondary healthcare facilities

Telangana Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha has directed officials to strengthen secondary healthcare facilities across the state. According to a report by The Hindu, the primary objective of this move is to ensure that people receive specialist medical services and diagnostic facilities within their own districts, so they do not have to travel to Hyderabad or hospitals attached to medical colleges for general health needs.

The Minister issued these directives during a review meeting held in Hyderabad on Monday, 9 November 2026. During the meeting, he examined a proposal for the reconstitution of the Directorate of Secondary Healthcare based on a study report prepared by the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI). This directorate was previously known as the Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad (TVVP).

The Minister stated that Community Health Centres (CHC), Area Hospitals (AH), and District Hospitals (DH) are extremely important for strengthening the delivery of health services at the district level. The government is currently focusing on improving infrastructure in these hospitals, ensuring the availability of adequate specialist doctors and support staff, and establishing diagnostic facilities.

Officials have been ordered to conduct a comprehensive assessment of every hospital. The Minister has sought details of currently available specialist services, departments requiring additional doctors, nursing or paramedical staff, and details of gaps in medical equipment and diagnostic facilities. He emphasised that "there should not be a situation where specialist doctors are available but they are unable to provide services due to a shortage of equipment or support staff."

Additionally, it has been asked to clearly define the range of medical services provided based on the bed capacity of the hospitals, including 30-bed, 50-bed, 100-bed facilities, and larger hospitals. Officials have been instructed to prepare detailed plans clarifying the necessary specialty departments, number of beds, operation theatres, laboratories, and other infrastructure in CHCs, Area Hospitals, and District Hospitals.

The Minister further directed that the development of secondary healthcare facilities across the state be carried out in accordance with Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS). Officials have been asked to compare current staff levels and sanctioned posts with IPHS requirements, identify gaps, reconstitute available posts based on current needs, and submit proposals for additional posts where necessary.

Reviewing the proposal to establish offices of the District Coordinator of Hospital Services (DCHS) in every district, the Minister emphasised the need to clearly define administrative responsibilities from the state-level directorate down to the district level.