Telangana prepares to operationalise nine Critical Care Blocks to cut emergency referrals to Hyderabad

The Telangana government has stepped up preparations to operationalise nine additional Critical Care Blocks following a recent review of the project’s progress by Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha, sources in the Health department said.

The Critical Care Blocks are part of a broader initiative under which 31 such facilities have been sanctioned across the State, with each block built at an estimated cost of ₹28 crore. Of these, four Critical Care Blocks located at Sangareddy, Nalgonda, Karimnagar and Nizamabad have already been inaugurated and are currently providing services, while the remaining units are at different stages of completion.

Officials familiar with the Minister’s review said that civil works and equipment installation have been completed at nine more locations, making them ready for inauguration. These facilities are located in Wanaparthy, Kamareddy, Jagtial, Jangaon, Vikarabad, Godavarikhani, Asifabad, Kothagudem and Adilabad. “The Health department is planning to commence services from the first week of January, subject to the completion of final scheduling and operational arrangements,” said a senior health official.

Each Critical Care Block has been developed as a 50-bed advanced emergency care facility, equipped to manage trauma cases, cardiac emergencies, neurological conditions and other life threatening situations. According to officials, the units are intended to deliver timely treatment during the crucial golden hour, particularly in districts that earlier lacked immediate access to tertiary level critical care.

During the review meeting, the Health Minister is learnt to have underlined that inaugurations should be carried out only when the facilities are fully ready to function. Officials have been instructed to ensure that all medical equipment is operational and that trained doctors, nurses and paramedical staff are deployed so that patient services can begin immediately after inauguration.

“With the phased rollout of the remaining Critical Care Blocks, the Health department expects a substantial reduction in referrals to Hyderabad and a strengthening of emergency response capabilities across Telangana,” the official added.