VIJAYAWADA: “Government hospitals lack proper medical equipment. Partnering with private hospitals will cover up the loopholes and help establish a proper health circuit in the State,” said Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, during the inauguration of a mega health camp at Swarna Bharathi trust in Atkur village on Sunday. The health camp was jointly organised by Sentini hospital, Kamineni hospital and Vishnu dental hospital.
Addressing the gathering, M Venkaiah Naidu said, “From the past one and a half year, the Vijayawada chapter of Swarna Bharathi trust has organised 16 medical camps and over 3,121 persons have availed medical services through these camps. Apart from that, 2,511 people have received skill development education and of them, over 2,000 have secured various jobs. We are planning to introduce other new courses through the trust. People from Krishna, Guntur, Godavari districts can avail these programmes. It is good to see that doctors from private hospitals are coming forward and taking part in community service through the trust. Participating in social activities and working for social causes gives immense satisfaction.”
He further said that across the country, there is a shortage of over five lakh doctors and to make up the shortage, by 2022, every district in the country would be having a medical college. “It is sad to see that only 32 per cent of the urban population and 40 per cent of the rural population are utilising the services of government hospitals. Through public private partnership mode, health services can be made available to the vast population,” he added.
Speaking on this occasion, Minister for health and medical education Kamineni Srinivas Rao said, “Drawing inspiration from the legendary Shri Venkaiah Naidu, the Swarna Bharathi trust is actively working for the needs of the people in core aspects like health and education. We wish this spreads to every corner of the country and benefit many more people.
Minister Devineni Umamaheswararao, doctors from Sentini, Kamineni and Vishnu hospitals also took part in the event.