AMARAVATI, May 5: Out-patient department (OPD) services at the newly established Government Teaching Hospital in Piduguralla will commence from May 20, Health and Medical Education Minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced on Tuesday, following a comprehensive two-hour review of the progress of construction and staffing at the institution.

The announcement comes in pursuance of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's directive to operationalise the Government Medical College at Piduguralla and admit students under the MBBS programme in the current academic year 2026-27, in accordance with the norms prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

Chairing the review meeting at the Secretariat, the Minister examined in detail the status of faculty and non-faculty recruitment, civil construction works, and procurement of equipment and furniture for both the college and the hospital. Senior officials, including Health Secretary Saurabh Gaur, in-charge Director of Medical Education Dr. Radhika Reddy, Director of Public Health Dr. Padmavathi, Guntur Medical College Principal Dr. Sundarachari, Guntur GGH Superintendent Dr. S.S.V. Ramana, APMSIDCL Chief Engineer Nehru, Guntur Regional Director Shobhadevi, and Guntur DMHO Dr. Vijayalakshmi, were present at the meeting.

Recruitments to be fast-tracked

Reviewing the appointments of professors, associate professors, assistant professors, and tutors at various levels — including under the DME, DPH, and the Guntur Regional Director — the Minister directed that all recruitments be completed without fail by the end of the month. He further suggested that contractual appointments of teaching staff be made wherever necessary to meet NMC requirements within the stipulated timeline.

Civil works must accelerate

Expressing concern over the pace of infrastructure development, Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav directed that key construction works be completed by May 20. In a pointed intervention during the meeting itself, the Minister spoke directly over the phone with the management of the construction firm to impress upon them the urgency of completing principal works by that date. Officials were also instructed to ensure that equipment and furniture are installed within the designated timelines.

Community outreach planned

Underlining the importance of public awareness, the Minister directed officials to inform residents of Piduguralla and surrounding areas about the commencement of OPD services, and to organise awareness programmes to encourage utilisation of the forthcoming medical facilities. He also suggested that temporary transport arrangements be made, as needed, to facilitate access to the hospital for people from neighbouring areas.

The medical college has received administrative approval for construction at an estimated cost of ₹500 crore. Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), ₹300 crore has been released for the college, of which the Central Government has sanctioned ₹195 crore, with the remaining expenditure to be borne by the State Government.