It is indeed a great revolution in the medical and health services by Telangana govt in the government hospitals for the good health of people, preventing diseases and early prompt diagnosis and treatment. It is most gratifying that recently the Telangana govt sanctioned Tiffa machinery to identify major diseases during early  pregnancy, kanti velugu( eye sight) programmes, 2D echo machine for cardiac diseases, biopsy machines, latest digital Xray machines , CT scan machines in all district ,area hospitals and all machinery already reached hospitals. Even government agreed to give postings to newly recruited doctors of their choice for better services to people.

Though government supplied the above mentioned and other equipments to government  hospitals spending huge budget for the best services ,the story is not ending here and government can not sit comfortably. Though medical equipments reached many hospitals, some are idle. Though Tiffa machines supplied ,shortage of radiologists is a big hurdle as in some hospitals only one  radiologist to examine hundreds of pregnant women and inview of this radiologist examines with Tiffa two days in a week only. And same radiologist has to look after CT scans , Xray reports thus many people are unable to get services. Due to lack of cardiologists 2D echo machines are lying idle. As there is shortage of pathologists and technicians to examine biopsies, the machinery is too taking rest some in packings only. No qualified doctors to look after dialysis patients for any complication. Though government instructs doctors not to prescribe drugs outside, lot of shortage of many drugs making the hands of doctors are tied as they can not prescribe outside  nor give proper drugs to patients  from hospital thus no justice to patient for treatment. These are the grass root level issues neglected by state as well as district officials. The issue never ends by just dumping medical equipment paying heavy bills to companies and middle men but man power is essential. Without proper qualified man power  no use dumping equipment and seals not opened for a long time.

The need of the hour is public private partnership as man power is very less in government sector. In these days, Specialists of all departments are settling in districts and divisional headquarters as heavy competition in metros and big cities. District authorities should appeal to local specialists like radiologists, cardiologists, nephrologists, neurologists to spare some time in district and area hospitals for the service to patients with reasonable payment by convincing them with the good offices of local branches of Indian Medical Associations as part of goodwill for the society. Here remuneration is not important but service to needy as medical proffession is divine calling Vydyo Natayana Hari. Till the specialists are recruited in govt hospitals ,govt can take services of private specialists. In return government can help the private doctors in various ways as interest free loans,incentives, awards and certificates in addition renumeration. Unless some drastic measures are taken for man power for service to patients utilising costly medical equipment ,there is no use dumping medical equipment in govt hospitals which get damaged for not using and going for repairs wasting tax payers money. Purchasing equipment is very easy but getting it used for patients and maintaining it is very difficult if proper care not taken. Let us hope ,TS Health Minister and officials of Medical and Health department will give a serious thought for better services in govt hospitals through costly medical equipment with proper man power.

JP Reddy,Nalgonda,