Telangana health budget up by 8%, focus on dialysis and medical education

An artistic impression of the proposed Osmania General Hospital building, pegged at ₹2700 crore, to come up at Goshamahal in Hyderabad.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

The Telangana government has allocated ₹12,393 crore for the Health, Medical, and Family Welfare Department in the state budget for the fiscal year 2025-26, marking an increase of ₹925 crore (8% increase) from the previous year’s allocation of ₹11,468 crore. The allocation also surpasses the ₹Rs 12,161 crore budgeted by the BRS government in 2023-24.

Presenting the budget on Wednesday (March 19, 2025), Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka underscored the government’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare sector and enhancing medical services.

Since December 2023, the government has disbursed ₹1,215 crore to various hospitals under the Aarogyasri scheme, reflecting a 50% increase compared to previous allocations, he noted. The scheme aims to provide uninterrupted healthcare access to 2.84 crore citizens across Telangana. “Additionally, to secure increased funding under the National Health Mission (NHM), the state government has ensured the timely release of its share, thereby maximising financial support from the central government,” he said.

Free dialysis

As part of its efforts to improve critical care services, the state has expanded free dialysis facilities to 102 centres, benefiting over one lakh patients and alleviating the financial burden by ₹948 crore. To further extend these services, 95 new dialysis centres have been sanctioned. Emergency medical response has also been bolstered with the deployment of 136 new ambulances in mandals that previously lacked such services.

400 new MBBS seats added

Medical education and infrastructure development have been given a boost with the addition of 400 MBBS seats in newly established medical colleges. The government has also sanctioned 16 new nursing colleges and 28 allied health sciences colleges, creating opportunities for 2,640 additional students to pursue medical education annually.

The government has committed ₹2,700 crore for the construction of a modern Osmania General Hospital (OGH) medical facility on a 27-acre site, aiming to enhance healthcare services and upgrade infrastructure at the century-old institution, the minister said.