Andhra Pradesh: 5 Govt Teaching Hospitals to set up artificial limb manufacturing centres

Vijayawada: To strengthen disability care and rehabilitation services, the Andhra Pradesh government has announced plans to establish artificial limb manufacturing centres at five government teaching hospitals across the state. Health, Medical and Family Welfare Minister Shri Satya Kumar Yadav said the facilities will come up in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Ongole, Tirupati and Kurnool. 

The proposed centres will manufacture a range of assistive products, including artificial limbs, wheelchairs, hearing aids and other mobility and support devices. According to the minister, the initiative is intended to make these devices more accessible and affordable for beneficiaries across the state, reports The Hindu.

Following approval from the Union government, teams from the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) began visiting the identified hospitals on Monday to assess land availability and review infrastructure requirements needed for setting up the facilities.

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Officials noted that India currently has 102 artificial limb manufacturing centres, with the Union government aiming to expand the network to 300 centres by 2030. In line with this plan, Chief Minister Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu had requested the Centre to establish such facilities across districts in Andhra Pradesh. Subsequently, approval was granted for units in five locations.

Director of Secondary Health, Shri K.V.N. Chakradhar Babu, and Smt Surya Kumari, Secretary, Women, Child Welfare, Senior Citizens, Differently-Abled Persons and Transgender Welfare Department, reviewed the proposed centres and discussed various aspects related to their establishment.

The state government is also preparing to initiate recruitment for personnel who will be responsible for measuring beneficiaries, manufacturing and fitting assistive devices, carrying out repairs and providing related support services.

Once operational, the units are expected to strengthen rehabilitation services and improve the availability of quality assistive devices along with after-sales support for persons with disabilities in Andhra Pradesh. The initiative is also expected to reduce dependence on external suppliers and facilitate timely access to mobility aids and prosthetic services for beneficiaries in different parts of the state.

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