Has the Andhra Cabinet Approved a Policy for Free Healthcare?

Amaravati, Sep 4 (NationPress) The Cabinet of Andhra Pradesh has officially sanctioned a groundbreaking universal health policy aimed at delivering high-quality medical treatment at no cost to approximately five crore residents in the state.

Under this initiative, health insurance coverage ranging from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh will be provided by insurance firms, while the NTR Vaidya Seva Trust will extend health coverage from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh for families classified as Below Poverty Line (BPL).

The meeting led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu approved the scheme that will include 3,257 health services.

Crucially, approvals for treatments will be granted within six hours of a patient's hospital admission, and a control room is to be established at the NTR Trust to oversee the provision of these complimentary health services.

During the press briefing, Minister for Information and Public Relations K Parthasarathi noted that the Cabinet also greenlit a proposal to establish 10 new medical colleges through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with plans to commence admissions in the 2027-28 academic year. The locations include Adoni, Madanapalli, Markapuram, Pulivendula, Penugonda, Palacole, Amalapuram, Narsipatnam, Bapatla, and Parvatiuram.

Significant decisions from the Cabinet also entail the waiver of stamp duty on lands allocated to educational institutions and hospitals within the Amaravati capital region, alongside the regularization of 59,375 unauthorized constructions as of August 31, 2025. Furthermore, the Cabinet is considering a proposal to elevate the height limit for high-rise buildings from 18 metres to 24 metres.

The Cabinet has also approved the municipal and urban development authorities' proposal for land pooling of 78.01 acres in Atmakuru village to facilitate the Mangalagiri Gold Cluster Land Pooling Scheme, benefiting local goldsmiths.

Additionally, it has decided to distribute 14.2 kg gas cylinders under the Deepam-2 scheme to aid 23,912 beneficiaries across 16 districts.

The state Cabinet has also endorsed investments approved in the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) meetings, and it has agreed to allot lands proposed by various departments, including Industries and Commercial Taxes, Tourism, Youth Welfare, and Power to attract investors. Furthermore, an allocation of Rs 5.7 crore has been approved for the maintenance and repair of 392 irrigation structures.

In an effort to boost employment, the Cabinet approved the allocation of 26.70 acres of land for electronics firms looking to invest Rs 1,595 crore in Naidupet, which will create 2,168 job opportunities.

The Cabinet has also decided to reduce the green tax on vehicles and will introduce relevant legislation during the upcoming Assembly session.

Moreover, the Cabinet has endorsed the AP drinking water supply schemes operation and maintenance initiative proposed by the Panchayat Raj Department to ensure the provision of safe drinking water in rural areas.

In a show of gratitude, the state Cabinet expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the reduction of GST on various products, benefiting the middle class and economically disadvantaged groups. They believe these reforms will significantly enhance the living standards of citizens.