The Telangana government has allocated Rs 12,393 crore to the Health, Medical & Family Welfare Department in its budget for the financial year 2025-26. This represents a modest increase from the previous year’s allocation of Rs 11,468 crore.
The total budget outlay for the state stands at Rs 3,04,965 crore. However, medical associations and healthcare experts argue that while the increase in funding is welcome, it does not adequately address the systemic challenges facing Telangana’s healthcare sector.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has voiced strong concerns over the state’s approach to healthcare funding. In a statement released on Wednesday, March 19, the IMA stressed that merely increasing budgetary allocations is not sufficient to improve healthcare outcomes.
The association has urged the government to establish a Telangana State Health Commission to regulate medical services, address staffing shortages, and curb illegal medical practices.
A key issue raised by the IMA is the acute shortage of medical personnel. The association highlighted that over 2,500 vacancies exist in the state’s healthcare system, with rural areas being the worst affected.
The lack of doctors and trained healthcare professionals in these regions has severely impacted the quality of medical services, leading to delays in treatment and inadequate patient care. “The government must prioritise rural and urban healthcare infrastructure, ensure the availability of essential medicines, and recruit more specialist doctors,” the IMA stated.
The IMA has also called for stringent action against unauthorised medical practitioners and unregulated clinics. The association warned that such practices contribute to mistreatment, misdiagnosis, and the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
It emphasised the need for public awareness campaigns to educate people about the risks associated with seeking treatment from unqualified individuals.
Additionally, the IMA stressed the importance of collaboration between the government, medical professionals, and the public to establish a robust and accessible healthcare system.
“Affordable and quality-driven healthcare services, especially in underserved areas, should be the focus. Investing in medical research and advanced healthcare technologies is also crucial for Telangana to emerge as a leader in modern healthcare,” the IMA added.
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Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka announced that the health sector’s allocation accounts for 4.06 percent of the state’s total budget for 2025-26. However, this remains significantly lower than the eight percent recommended by the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017.
Professor Dr. Burri Ranga Reddy, President of the Hyderabad Infection Control Academy of India, criticised the budget for being overly focused on curative healthcare rather than preventive measures.
He pointed out that despite Telangana's increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, the budget lacks dedicated funding for their prevention and management.
“The absence of targeted programs for controlling vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, and chikungunya is a major concern. Additionally, there is no significant investment in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) initiatives or infection control infrastructure in hospitals, which is essential for reducing hospital-acquired infections,” Reddy noted.
While acknowledging the expansion of the dialysis network for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients as a positive step, Dr. Reddy emphasised the need for a stronger focus on early disease screening and community health programs.
“Preventive healthcare should be prioritised over reactive treatment. Investing in robust infection control measures, vaccination programmes, and early screening initiatives will yield long-term benefits for Telangana’s healthcare system,” he said.
As debates over the adequacy of healthcare funding continue, medical professionals and public health experts are urging the state government to take a more holistic approach by addressing structural deficiencies, investing in preventive healthcare, and enforcing regulations to eliminate unqualified medical practitioners. Whether the government will respond to these concerns with policy changes remains to be seen.
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