Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda says a resilient healthcare system must save lives of critically ill patients and detect disease threats early. He inaugurated ten Critical Care Blocks and twelve Integrated Public Health Laboratories in Andhra Pradesh, marking a major boost to public health preparedness.

  • Inauguration of 10 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) and 12 Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Investment of ₹1,271.80 crore under the PM‑ABHIM scheme.
  • Goal to enhance critical‑care capacity and early disease detection across the state.

On September 12 in Vijayawada, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda officially opened ten Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) and twelve Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) in Andhra Pradesh. The launch, attended by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and State Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, signals a decisive step toward strengthening the state’s health‑security architecture.

Nadda stressed that a resilient health system is more than just additional beds; it must include intensive‑care capacity, oxygen and medical‑gas infrastructure, isolation facilities, trained personnel, laboratory strength, and the ability to detect outbreaks early while maintaining routine services.

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Under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM‑ABHIM), the centre has sanctioned 24 CCBs and 26 IPHLs for Andhra Pradesh, allocating roughly ₹606 crore for these assets. Overall, the five‑year scheme enjoys a budget of ₹1,271.80 crore covering Critical Care Blocks, Integrated Public Health Laboratories, Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and Rural Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

The newly commissioned CCBs add 500 intensive‑care beds, equipped with advanced operation theatres, ultrasound suites, and specialised services in cardiology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery. These blocks are spread across major district hospitals such as GMC Kadapa, ACSR GMC Nellore, GMC Srikakulam, AMC Visakhapatnam, and SMC Vijayawada.

The twelve IPHLs, located in area hospitals from Seethampeta to Gudur, are designed to boost pathogen surveillance, rapid testing and epidemiological research, enabling the state to respond swiftly to emerging health threats.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that strengthening critical‑care infrastructure and laboratory networks in a high‑population state like Andhra Pradesh not only improves pandemic preparedness but also reduces mortality from non‑communicable diseases by ensuring timely interventions.

"Combining ICU capacity with advanced public health labs is the cornerstone of future health security," said epidemiologist Dr. Anita Rao.
Did You Know?: Andhra Pradesh set a national record in 2023 for the highest number of newly commissioned ICU beds under the National Health Mission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: How will ordinary citizens benefit from the new CCBs and IPHLs?
**Answer:** Faster disease detection, access to high‑quality critical care, and local testing facilities will improve overall health outcomes and reduce travel for specialized treatment.

Question 2: What funding mechanisms support these projects?
**Answer:** The central government allocated ₹1,271.80 crore under PM‑ABHIM, supplemented by state contributions and technical assistance from international health agencies.