A resilient healthcare system does not just mean an increased number of beds; it must have critical-care capacity, oxygen and medical-gas systems, isolation facilities, trained manpower, laboratory capacity and the ability to detect outbreaks early, while maintaining routine health services, says Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda.

Inaugurating 10 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) and 12 Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs), costing ₹250 crore, in Andhra Pradesh in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Minister for Health, Medical and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav from Vijayawada on September 12 (Saturday), Mr. Nadda said the facilities mark an important step towards strengthening public health preparedness and health-security architecture in the State.

Earlier, they visited the newly established Critical Care Block and Integrated Public Health Laboratories at the old Government General Hospital in Vijayawada and formally opened the facilities.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Nadda said the CCBs and Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) represent two essential dimensions of a resilient health system. “The capacity to save life when a patient is critically ill, and the capacity to detect and respond to disease threats before they become major public health emergencies,” he said.

Under Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), the Union government had sanctioned 24 CCBs, with an investment of around ₹606 crore, and 26 IPHLs for the State, the Minister said.

The Centre approved ₹1,271.80 crore for the five-year scheme period under four key components, including Critical Care Blocks, Integrated Public Health Laboratories, Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and Rural Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Mr. Nadda said.

Later, Mr. Nadda praised Andhra Pradesh’s Sanjeevani programme for taking healthcare to people’s doorstep and facilitating testing for 41 health parameters.

According to official information, the projects have added 500 critical-care beds and include advanced operation theatres, ultrasound facilities and specialised services in cardiology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery.

The newly opened 10 Critical Care Blocks are located at GMC Kadapa, ACSR GMC Nellore, GMC Srikakulam, AMC Visakhapatnam, GMC Ongole, District Hospital Anakapalli, GMC Rajamahendravaram, KMC Kurnool, District Hospital Hindupur and SMC Vijayawada. The 12 Integrated Public Health Laboratories are located at Area Hospital Seethampeta, Area Hospital Guntakal, Area Hospital Palamaner, Area Hospital Aganampudi, Area Hospital Nandigama, Area Hospital Chirala, Area Hospital Araku, Area Hospital Narasaraopeta, Area Hospital Banaganapalli, Area Hospital Anaparthy, Area Hospital Tuni and Area Hospital Gudur.