Telangana Health Minister: Doctors to spend one night every month at PHCs

T Harish Rao, the Health Minister, stated on Sunday that the presence of local health officers at a PHC for a whole day, including the night, will give assurance to the patient's families. Moreover, under the surveillance of a superior, the healthcare staff will be more disciplined.

Harish Rao had a review meeting with DM&HOs, programme officers, medical officers, and senior healthcare staff of PHC and sub-centres in Telangana. He confirmed that he will also abide by the rule and spend a night at a PHC. It was further mentioned that the doctors and other medical staff should be on duty from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at PHCs, reports The Hindu. According to the Rural Health Statistics 2020-2021, there are 863 PHCs in the State. Some of these function round the clock. Emergency services have to be provided at such health centres, he added.

The Minister told Telangana Today, "In the coming weeks, I will spend a night at PHC so that I can get first-hand knowledge of the challenges that patients and healthcare workers face at the ground level." The Minister also directed the health officials to ensure that all the possibilities of natural deliveries are properly considered before conducting C-sections of any patient in government hospitals.

"There are nearly 210 sub-centres in Telangana where as more than 70 per cent of the deliveries are taken up at private hospitals. As a result, there is a rise in C-sections in areas that fall under these sub-centres. For the past three to four weeks, we have identified these sub-centres and have focussed our attention to reduce C-sections in these areas," he said.

During the meeting issues like screening of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), conducting caesarean sections at government and private hospitals, registration for Ante-natal check-ups (ANC), and other services offered for pregnant women, Out-Patient services have been addressed. The pivotal point of the meeting was to discuss the number of caesarean sections performed in government and commercial institutions.

The Health Minister gave emphasis on reducing the number of C-sections deliveries by 60%. Mr Rao also expressed his concern while stating that certain private hospitals were performing unnecessary C-sections. He also directed concerned authorities to file complaints with the Medical Council against such private hospitals. Also, often patients don't rely on government facilities and 70% of deliveries in 210 sub-centre limits were conducted at private hospitals, which is leading to more C- Sections. Hence, the minister directed the concerned authorities to take necessary steps to improve the prevailing situation.