HYDERABAD: Telangana’s health and family welfare budget for 2026-27 has been pegged at ₹13,679 crore, marking a ₹1,286 crore (10.4%) increase over the previous year’s ₹12,393 crore. Presenting the budget, finance minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said the govt aims to shift focus from treatment-driven care to preventive healthcare.The state plans to expand bed capacity in govt tertiary hospitals from 30,377 in Dec 2023 to 44,029 by the end of 2026. A digital public health profiling system will also be rolled out, providing every resident with health card.
Priority areas include maternal and child health, chronic disease control and mental healthcare. Day care cancer centres, NCD clinics, senior citizen clinics, palliative care units and Maitri clinics have been established at district headquarters. The govt is also expanding medical education with 17 new medical colleges and additional nursing and paramedical institutions.Medical bodies welcomed the preventive focus and resolution of stipend delays. However, Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association noted that health spending remains 4-5% of the budget, below the national average of 6% and promised 10%. Medical bodies highlighted staff shortages, pending Aarogyasri dues.
