NSO data highlights the financial burden of healthcare in Telangana, where average hospitalisation costs Rs 52,743. Medical travel adds another expense, with Indian households spending an average Rs 32,167 per health-related overnight trip, excluding treatment costs themselves.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended price caps and standardised charges for treatments and diagnostics at private hospitals to protect families from high medical bills. It has also proposed Jan Aushadhi Kendras, insurance for the missing middle and expanded public healthcare infrastructure.
Kondaiah, a retired government school teacher from Mahabubnagar, spent his final days battling a lung infection and mounting hospital bills while waiting for his retirement benefits. Despite repeated appeals, the funds were released only after media intervention, just a day before his death. His family believes timely support could have saved him.
On the fateful day, Sai Teja and his cousin brother Vikram and friend Sai Krishna were on their way to Adilabad after attending the marriage ceremony in Nirmal.
