Hyderabad: Drawing inspiration from Kerjirwal government’s successful experiments with “Mohalla Clinics” in Delhi state, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti government in Telangana Friday launched the “Locality Hospitals” in Hyderabad at 17 places.

Inaugurating one such clinic, where people get free medical treatment and medicine, the minister for urban development K Taraka Rama Rao said that healthcare had become one of the biggest and difficult challenges in the present times and the state government was giving special attention to the public health. “Telangana has emerged as a model in the field of medical and health care,” he said.

He inaugurated the “Basti Dawakhana” at Malkajgiri along with the minister for health Dr Lakshma Reddy. He also announced that the state government was planning to open 1,000 such clinics and there will be one such centre for every 1,0000 population. “soon Telangana diagnostic labs will also be opened”, he said.

Basti Dawakhana were also inaugurated Friday at Hashamabad in old city and Gaddianaram.

KTR said that these hospitals will be a great boon for the hundreds of thousands of people as their financial burden will also be eased. “Through such centers we can have the health profile of every citizen. Soon we will also have the eye check-up campaign to cover every citizen”, he added.

He also underlined the need for creating awareness among the people to take precautionary measures against cancer.

Referring to the KCR Kit program for pregnant women, he said with this initiative the ratio of the institutional deliveries had gone up from 30 per cent to 50 per cent in the state.

After inaugurating the clinic at Malkajgiri, KTR got himself checked by the health minister Dr Lakshma Reddy who checked his blood pressure level and also treated an injury on his hand.

Meanwhile, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia lauded Telangana government for the locality clinic initiative. “Congratulations @KTRTRS ! Mohalla Clinic is the solution to mass health care”, he tweeted Friday morning.