Hyderabad: To strengthen its public healthcare network, the state govt is likely to inaugurate the Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS) at Sanathnagar and launch 145 polyclinics across the CURE region, tentatively on June 11.The move comes at a time when govt hospitals are witnessing a steady rise in patients suffering from lifestyle-related ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and thyroid disorders. Health officials believe the new polyclinics will help bridge the gap between primary and tertiary care by bringing specialist services closer to communities and reducing the burden on major hospitals.“A total of 145 Urban Primary Health Centres are being upgraded into polyclinics in the CURE region. Each facility will provide eight specialist services through weekly outpatient clinics with support from government medical colleges. The objective is to reduce the overload on tertiary-care hospitals in urban areas and make specialist healthcare more accessible at the community level,” a senior health official said.While TIMS Sanathnagar will cater to complex and critical cases, officials said the 145 polyclinics are designed to address a longstanding challenge in urban healthcare. Patients often travel to tertiary hospitals even for routine specialist consultations, leading to overcrowding and long waiting periods.“The proposed polyclinics will offer specialist outpatient consultations, diagnostic investigations, screening services, and follow-up care closer to residential areas, enabling early detection and management of chronic diseases,” the official added.Ahead of the inauguration, health minister Damodar Raja Narasimha reviewed preparedness at TIMS Sanathnagar. The minister inspected outpatient and inpatient services, emergency and intensive care units, operation theatres, diagnostic laboratories, the blood bank, pharmacy, centralised kitchen, and advanced imaging facilities, including CT scan and MRI units.“The hospital will operate with 450 healthcare personnel deployed from various government hospitals across Hyderabad. The core workforce will comprise around 150 doctors and specialists, supported by 300 nurses and paramedical staff,” the official said.Meanwhile, the govt is also planning to inaugurate a super-speciality hospital at Patancheru, critical care blocks in Bhadradri Kothagudem, Medak and Narayanpet, a Community Health Centre at Kollapur, and a Central Medical Store at Bhuvanagiri, signalling a major expansion of Telangana’s public healthcare infrastructure.
