Vijayawada: Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav on Saturday highlighted significant improvements in the public healthcare system over the past two years, noting that attendance among doctors and medical staff in government hospitals has increased by 28%. This has resulted in enhanced patient care and greater utilization of health services across the state.
Addressing a press conference in Vijayawada, the minister presented a report on the coalition government's two-year performance in the health sector. Staff attendance in government hospitals rose from 65.36% in 2023-24 to 83.75% in 2025-26. This improvement has led to a substantial increase in outpatient and inpatient services, surgeries, and diagnostic tests.
According to the report, surgeries performed in government hospitals increased by 37.38%, from 15.13 lakh in 2023-24 to 20.79 lakh in 2025-26. Diagnostic tests saw an even sharper rise of 56.14%, increasing from 7.98 crore to 12.47 crore during the same period.
The minister attributed this turnaround to stricter monitoring and accountability measures introduced by the government. Disciplinary action against absentee staff, including the termination of 51 senior doctors who remained absent for prolonged periods, helped improve attendance and service delivery. Highlighting growing public confidence in government healthcare facilities, he noted that patient footfall has increased significantly, prompting the government to establish 168 additional outpatient counters in teaching hospitals over the last two years.
Citing examples from across the state, he said outpatient services increased by 31% at Madhurawada PHC in Vizianagaram district and by 23% at Kolli PHC in Kurnool district. At Cheepurupalli Area Hospital, outpatient services rose by 20%, inpatient services by 16%, and diagnostic tests by 43%. Palamaneru Area Hospital recorded a 33% rise in outpatient services and a 67% increase in diagnostic tests.
Among teaching hospitals, RUIA Hospital in Tirupati reported a 39% increase in outpatient services, while surgeries increased by 38% at King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, and by 53% at Kurnool GGH.
Rebuking former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's allegations that the Dr NTR Vaidya Seva scheme had weakened under the coalition government, the minister said the average number of beneficiaries increased from 8 lakh annually during the previous government to 14 lakh under the present dispensation, marking a 70% rise. Annual expenditure under the scheme also increased from Rs 2,315 crore to Rs 3,805 crore.
On emergency medical services, Satya Kumar Yadav said response times of 108 ambulances have improved considerably. The average response time in urban areas has reduced from 27.03 minutes during the previous government to 17.34 minutes under the coalition administration. With the introduction of the Golden Hour protocol, ambulances now transport patients to hospitals within an hour in 95% of cases, compared to 34% earlier.
