Wed Mar 19 13:44:38 UTC 2025: ## Telangana IMA Criticizes Insufficient Healthcare Budget

**Hyderabad, March 19, 2025** – The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Telangana has criticized the state government’s ₹12,393 crore allocation for the Health Department, deeming it insufficient to address the state’s healthcare challenges. The allocation represents only 4% of the total budget, falling far short of the 8% recommended by the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017.

Dr. Burri Ranga Reddy, Chairman of the IMA Telangana’s Public Health Committee, and Dr. Duvvuru Dwarakanatha Reddy, president of IMA Telangana, voiced concerns over the inadequate funding. They emphasized the need for a stronger foundation, including improved infrastructure, increased recruitment of doctors and medical staff (currently facing over 2,500 vacancies), better diagnostic facilities, and increased availability of essential medicines, particularly in rural areas. The IMA renewed its call for the establishment of a Telangana State Health Commission to oversee healthcare delivery and combat illegal medical practices.

While welcoming the expansion of dialysis networks for chronic kidney disease (CKD), Dr. Ranga Reddy stressed the importance of a preventative approach, advocating for increased investment in early screening, community health programs, and robust infection control systems. The IMA argues that simply increasing funds without addressing systemic weaknesses will not produce meaningful improvements in healthcare.

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