Vijayawada: Health minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced that the state govt will upgrade all hospitals with fewer than 50 beds into 100-bed facilities under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, aiming to strengthen secondary healthcare infrastructure across Andhra Pradesh.Replying to questions during Question Hour in the assembly on Wednesday, the minister said the initiative is designed to improve access to quality medical services, especially in semi-urban and rural areas where smaller hospitals struggle with limited infrastructure and manpower. “We have already identified 61 constituencies where PHCs are functioning with hospitals below 50-bed capacity. A new policy framework is being prepared to develop these hospitals through the PPP model. A detailed policy will be announced after clearance from chief minister Chandrababu Naidu,” Yadav said.
By expanding these facilities to 100 beds, the govt seeks to enhance inpatient services, specialist consultations, diagnostic capabilities, and emergency response systems. The PPP model, he explained, will allow the state to leverage private sector expertise and investment while ensuring affordable treatment under existing health schemes.
THe initiative is expected to ease patient load on major district and teaching hospitals, which often face overcrowding due to referrals from smaller centres. Legislators’ requests will also be considered during the upgradation process.In addition to hospital upgrades, the minister informed the House that the govt is establishing 24 trauma care centres along National Highways across various districts. These centres aim to provide immediate medical intervention to accident victims and reduce preventable fatalities. Strategically located to ensure access within the “golden hour,” the facilities will feature emergency operation theatres, ICUs, trained trauma specialists, and round-the-clock ambulance services.Road accidents continue to claim thousands of lives annually, the minister noted. The creation of dedicated trauma care infrastructure, alongside hospital expansion, reflects the government’s broader commitment to strengthening public healthcare delivery and emergency medical response across the state
