Visakhapatnam: Highlighting the high infant mortality rate (IMR) in Andhra Pradesh, the NGO Praja Arogya Vedika (PAV) has urged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to increase the state’s healthcare budget to 6% of the gross state domestic product (GSDP). In a letter to the Chief Minister on Thursday, PAV cited data showing Andhra Pradesh's IMR at 24 per 1,000 live births—significantly higher than the 16 in Karnataka, 9 in Kerala, and 10 in Tamil Nadu.

The letter detailed findings from medical camps conducted across rural, urban, and Tribal areas, which revealed high rates of anaemia among children under five and among women. The anaemia rate among children aged 6 to 59 months has risen from 59% in the NFHS-4 survey to 63% in NFHS-5, indicating worsening health outcomes.

PAV also raised concerns over this year’s diarrhoea outbreak, linked to contaminated water, and urged the implementation of a statewide safe drinking water initiative to reduce waterborne diseases. They proposed the establishment of specialised hospitals in Andhra Pradesh, modelled after Telangana’s Government Cancer Hospital and children’s super-speciality hospitals, to make quality healthcare more accessible.

According to PAV, 66% of healthcare expenses in Andhra Pradesh are paid out-of-pocket by households, often requiring families to take loans, increasing financial stress. The NGO emphasized the urgent need for the state to prioritize health by raising its budget allocation from under 2% to 6% of the GSDP.

For More Updates: Follow Us https://www.instagram.com/hellovizag.in/