SVIMS to connect 60 PHCs through Sanjeevani Telemedicine programme

Tirupati: SVIMS will soon extend specialist healthcare services to rural patients through Sanjeevani telemedicine programme, connecting 60 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) with its medical specialists in the first phase. The initiative, to be launched as a pilot project with the support of the State government, aims to make super-speciality medical advice accessible to people in remote areas.

SVIMS Director cum Vice-Chancellor Dr Gudaru Jagadesh said nine departments, including cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, general surgery, medical oncology, general medicine, gynaecology, paediatrics and orthopaedics, had been selected for the programme.

Under the initiative, PHC doctors can consult SVIMS specialists through audio and video facilities, share patients’ symptoms and medical reports, and obtain treatment advice. Patients, who can be treated with medicines, will receive prescriptions, while those requiring further investigations or specialised treatment will be referred to relevant SVIMS departments.

Alongside expanding rural healthcare, SVIMS is stepping up efforts to ensure that every eligible poor patient receives quality treatment under Dr NTR Vaidya Seva scheme. Dr Jagadesh has directed all departments to identify eligible beneficiaries and ensure that they receive government healthcare benefits without delay.

The hospital provided medical services worth Rs 11.85 crore through various healthcare schemes in October 2026. During the month, 2,519 patients received treatment under Dr NTR Vaidya Seva scheme, with approved packages accounting for Rs 8.37 crore. TTD Sri Venkateswara Pranadana scheme provided Rs 2.20 crore in additional financial assistance, while SVIMS management bore another Rs 1.27 crore towards treatment costs.

Dr Jagadesh said additional financial support was being extended to eligible patients when NTR Vaidya Seva package amount was insufficient to meet the cost of complex treatments. He said providing quality healthcare to poor and economically weaker families was a key responsibility of the institution.

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Pradeep Vennelakanti

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