Telangana government allocates Rs.100 crore to tackle Coronavirus

The State government on Tuesday announced setting-aside Rs 100 crore to take head-on the challenge of containing the threat of COVID-19, after a software professional from Hyderabad with a travel history to Dubai tested positive on Monday.

After day-long meetings with health officials, which also included a coordination meeting with several government departments that was chaired by MA&UD Minister KT Rama Rao, Health Minister Etela Rajender assured people that the State government will roll out a massive response to restrict COVID-19.

“Chief Minister, K Chandrashekhar Rao has directed us to utilise funds worth Rs 100 crore to tackle the threat of 2019-nCoV in Telangana. Our response to COVID-19 will be at multiple levels including augmenting infrastructure, improving manpower and spreading awareness about COVID-19 on a large scale among people,” he said.

The government has now set aside 3,000



isolation beds in Telangana and health authorities are collaborating with managements of private medical colleges, which have now allotted 2,000 isolation beds. The remaining 1,000 beds will be provided at public healthcare institutions including Gandhi Hospital, Chest Hospital, Fever Hospital, King Koti District Hospital, Chest Hospital and District Hospital in Vikarabad.

Acknowledging the need to have trained manpower, the government has directed 24 senior government pulmonologists to exclusively work for COVID-19 containment. “We have also identified 20 more trained pulmonologists who can provide additional support, if needed. In a worst case scenario, there could still be shortage of doctors and for that we are working with corporate hospitals to identify more doctors. Experienced retired doctors and nursing staff have also been contacted and they are willing to chip-in,” Rajender said.