Kidney, cancer cases rise sharply across Telangana: study
HYDERABAD: Kidney and cancer cases are rising sharply across Telangana, emerging as the top two ailments in the state over the past five years. A recent study by the state health department, based on Aarogyasri data, found that these diseases account for the highest number of cases reported between 2020 and 2025 in private hospitals.
Kidney, cancer lead top 10 disease list
The analysis covered cases recorded in private hospitals across Telangana between 2020 and 2025. Kidney ailments topped the list with 3,63,197 cases, followed by cancer (oncology) with 3,06,702 cases. Orthopaedic cases (1,91,852) and cardiology cases (1,45,814) ranked third and fourth respectively.
The other six categories were general medicine (73,697), ophthalmology (57,639), neurology (40,667), general surgery (31,214), paediatrics (28,924) and gynaecology (9,517). The health department has identified these as the most essential super-speciality departments needed in teaching hospitals across the state.
Government plans to strengthen key departments
Given the rising burden, the government plans to upgrade infrastructure in nephrology, oncology, orthopaedics and cardiology departments across district hospitals. “Strengthening these departments will reduce the financial burden on patients,” officials said.
Nephrology: The government will set up one dialysis centre every 25 km and expand transplant facilities in district hospitals.
Oncology: Steps are being taken to provide cancer diagnosis and treatment at the district level, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, to reduce travel to Hyderabad.
The state will establish 74 trauma care centres with road accidents and suicide attempts on the rise.
Cardiology: The authorities will set up cath labs and advanced diagnostic units in district hospitals. Funding will come partly from a World Bank loan.
Super-speciality PG seats likely to be increased
With kidney, cancer, orthopaedic and cardiac cases forming the majority of the disease burden, the government plans to seek National Medical Commission approval to increase super-speciality postgraduate (PG) seats.
Currently, Telangana has 165 seats in government medical colleges and 38 in private institutions. The state aims to expand these, especially in district teaching hospitals, to improve access to advanced care in rural areas.
The government also intends to raise the number of Hospital Administration PG seats, currently eight, so trained medicos can manage hospital operations effectively.
Final Copy Summary
The Telangana government is preparing a comprehensive plan to expand dialysis centres, oncology facilities, trauma units, and cardiac care infrastructure while pushing for more PG medical seats to match the state’s growing disease load in kidney, cancer, bone, and heart ailments.
