Dr Anji Reddy, Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh Vaidya Vidhana Parishad (APVVP), has stated that the granting of autonomy to the hospital advisory committees headed by district collectors is producing results and becoming beneficial to the management. Addressing a gathering of doctors and staff of APVVP, Dr Reddy said that the committee could collect user charges from people who could afford. At the same time, he said, the money collected should not be diverted.

He said there had been significant improvement in the working of the Parishad. The number of A grade hospitals had increased. There was all round improvement in financial outlay and budget and also increased workforce like paramedical and supervisory staff.

The Parishad was organizing health camps for poor people in various districts. So far it covered Nizamabad, Mehboobnagar and Karimnagar. A plastic surgery camp would be held in Chittoor district soon, he said.

While recognizing the performance of the hospitals and the staff, APVVP would take action against staff who indulged in malpractices. He said already action had been taken against 356 doctors, of whom the services of 242 had been terminated and the remaining were either transferred, suspended or had to face cut in their pay. Incentives were also given to the staff for good performance at district and area hospitals and community health centres.

He felt happy that public representatives were taking interest in developing the community health centres in their respective areas.