Integrated laboratories in 13 Area Hospitals in A.P. to be ready by April

Thirteen Integrated Public Health Laboratories being set up at Area Hospitals across Andhra Pradesh will help improve healthcare services in rural areas, Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav has said, adding that the facilities are likely to start functioing from March or April.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mr. Yadav said 134 tests relating to communicable and non-communicable diseases can be performed at these laboratories. The labs are being set up under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) at a cost of ₹16.25 crore.

All the necessary equipment for sample testing are being readied, the Minister said.

The labs are equipped with Class 2 Biological Safety Cabinets (BSCs), an automated 5-part cell counter, an automated hormone analyser, a semi-automated biochemistry analyser, an electrolyte analyser, and a microtome.

These advanced machines will also be used in collecting samples required for national programmes, such as HIV diagnosis, hepatitis, and tuberculosis.

More integrated laboratories in the State can help identify the diseases and their severity in a shorter time. These will be helpful during outbreaks, when coordination is required among different departments, he said.

The Minister said the construction of these laboratories is almost complete in the Area Hospitals of Seethampeta in Parvathipuram Manyam district, Guntakal in Anantapur district, Palamaner in Chittoor district, Araku in Alluri Sitarama Raju district, Narasaraopet in Palnadu district, Aganampudi in Visakhapatnam district, Banaganapalle in Nandyal district, Chirala in Bapatla district, Nandigama in NTR district, and Jangareddygudem in Eluru district.

Meanwhile, the construction of the labs is under way in the hospitals at Tuni in Kakinada district, Gudur in Nellore district, and Anaparthi in East Godavari district. In the Jangareddygudem lab, the medical staff has begun testing samples, according to the statement.

The Minister said tests in microbiology, haematology, clinical biochemistry, clinical pathology, molecular biology, among others, will be performed in these laboratories. Cardiac markers, cancer markers, iron studies, hormone and vitamin tests will be available. Tests to identify the level of contamination in water samples can also be conducted.