Telangana to roll out referral system to decongest govt hospitals in Hyderabad: Health Minister

Minister proposes referral system to reduce congestion at Hyderabad hospitals, emphasizes need for upgraded medical facilities across Telangana.

To ease overcrowding at Telangana government’s major tertiary care hospitals in Hyderabad, including Gandhi Hospital, Osmania General Hospital, and the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Minister for Health C. Damodar Raja Narasimha has proposed a referral system. Under this system, patients will be directed to these hospitals only when necessary, reducing unnecessary admissions and ensuring that critical cases receive timely care. The Minister also urged the need for stricter measures to ensure that doctors are present during duty hours in all government hospitals.

Chairing a review meeting in Hyderabad on Thursday, the Minister announced a plan to upgrade government medical facilities across Telangana. He underscored the need for advanced infrastructure, adequate human resources, essential medical equipment, and improved sanitation in public healthcare institutions.

The Minister stressed the importance of ensuring accessibility to all diagnostic services, particularly for the economically disadvantaged sections of society. Additionally, hospital superintendents will be allocated funds for the maintenance of medical tools and plants to ensure uninterrupted services, he said.

The government will also ensure that essential medical services are fully available at primary health centres (PHCs), district hospitals, urban PHCs, and community health centres (CHCs), the Minister added.