Andhra Pradesh Medical Education Minister Kondru Murali said that the Congress government treats all three regions in an equal manner in respect of in providing medical education.
Out of 5600 medical seats, the Telangana region accounted for 2350 seats, followed by 2300 seats for the Andhra region and 980 seats for the Rayalaseema region, he said at a press conference in Visakhapatnam today.
He said the Medical Council of India (MCI) had sanctioned 600 medical seats for Andhra Pradesh this year and the state stood number one in the country, having the highest number of medical seats.
He expressed the hope that next year, the MCI would sanction another 700 to 800 medical seats to the state. The MCI had not sanctioned the seats to Osmania and Kakatiya medical colleges though the government had submitted the requisition in time, he said.
The minister said that medicines worth Rs 44 crore were available in all central medical stores in the state for public use. There was no shortage of medicines even at primary health centres.
The state government has increased its medical budget from Rs 190 crore to Rs 300 crore for medicines, he said.
With a view to provide ambulance service in girijan areas 78 jeeps were converted into ambulances.
The state government also planned to introduce boat ambulances in Godavari river and Kolleru lake to provide medical services to the people in riverine areas.