Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said that optimal use of technology in healthcare is the need of the hour, and the State government had accorded top priority to the sector by ushering in public-private partnership, bolstering the working style of the government hospitals.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the first phase of the Apollo Knowledge City on the premises of the Apollo Medical College here on Friday.
Addressing the gathering of medical and paramedical staff, medicos and general public, Mr. Naidu said 14 medical colleges would be coming up in Amaravati soon. He observed that it was a welcome sign that a major health sector player like Apollo had come forward with innovative ideas such as Knowledge City to usher in total health programmes.
Mr. Naidu had a word of praise for Mr. Ratan Tata for the gesture of establishing the advanced cancer hospital at a cost of ₹600 crore in Tirupati, and Mr. Pratap C. Reddy for the Knowledge City in Chittoor. “In order to make the people of the State happy and healthy, we are conducting Happy Sundays in all municipalities,” he said.
Water for Kuppam
Referring to the drought conditions in Rayalaseema, the Chief Minister said there was deficit rainfall in the region. “In two or three months, the Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanti waters would be brought to Chittoor district. The waters would also bring happiness to the farmers of Kuppam region, and there they can harvest gold,” he said.
Mr. Naidu said that the Chittoor municipal corporation would be developed on a par with Tirupati.
Apollo chairman Pratap C. Reddy, Chittoor MP N. Siva Prasad, Chittoor MLA D.A. Satyaprabha, TDP district president P. Nani, Collector P.S. Pradyumna and senior officials and party cadres were present.
Later, the Chief Minister performed ‘bhumi puja’ for construction of a Kapu Bhavan at a cost of ₹1 crore at Thene Banda locality in Chittoor.