Piduguralla Medical College to Commence Outpatient Services from May 1
In a significant development for healthcare in Palnadu, Narasaraopet MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu has announced that outpatient (OP) services at the Piduguralla government medical college will be launched from May 1. This move aims to accelerate healthcare access for residents who have historically faced challenges in obtaining medical services.
Comprehensive Plans for Medical Education Expansion
The MP revealed that the government is actively working to launch the medical college with at least 100 seats starting from the next academic year. These announcements were made during a review meeting held after inspecting the progress of construction at the upcoming government medical college-attached hospital on Monday.
Key officials present during the inspection included:
- Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar
- Gurazala MLA Yarapathineni Srinivasa Rao
- District Collector Kritika Shukla
- Various other government officials
Addressing Historical Healthcare Deficiencies
Addressing the gathering, MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu highlighted the critical need for improved medical infrastructure in the region. "Many lives were lost in the past as patients had to travel all the way to Guntur for better medical services," he stated, emphasizing the hardships faced by local residents.
The MP recalled his persistent efforts to establish a medical college and hospital in Palnadu, recognizing both the healthcare access challenges and the need for medical education opportunities in the area. During the 2019 Parliament sessions, he questioned the Centre about plans to establish such institutions and subsequently proposed the Piduguralla facility.
Project Progress and Funding Details
The Piduguralla medical college project, estimated at Rs 350 crore, is being executed with a 60:40 funding pattern between the Centre and the state government. Remarkably, current construction works at Piduguralla have largely been completed using central funds.
Devarayalu noted that among the 17 medical colleges approved across the state, projects at Piduguralla, Machilipatnam, and Paderu have shown relatively better progress. "After the coalition government assumed office, it has prioritized completion of all pending medical colleges," he added.
Public-Private Partnership Model Implementation
Given the state's financial constraints, the government has introduced the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to expedite medical college construction works. The MP asserted that this approach provides no undue benefit to any party and dismissed opposition allegations regarding the policy as baseless.
Political Context and Opposition Criticism
Devarayalu also addressed political dimensions, criticizing the opposition YSR Congress Party for not supporting the move to grant legal status to Amaravati during discussions in the Lok Sabha. He alleged that while most parties backed the proposal in the interest of the state, the YSRCP refrained from extending support despite knowing the Centre would approve the bill.
"This reflects their negative stance on Amaravati," he stated, further accusing the opposition of making contradictory claims on various issues and attempting to take credit for initiatives undertaken by the coalition government. This includes efforts by MPs to resolve issues related to the Rural Development Trust in Anantapur.
The development of the Piduguralla medical college represents a crucial step toward addressing long-standing healthcare infrastructure gaps in Palnadu, promising both improved medical services for residents and enhanced educational opportunities for aspiring medical professionals in the region.
