Andhra Pradesh Gets First Container Hospital To Serve Interior Tribal Hamlets

The container hospital, under the jurisdiction of Tonam Primary Health Centre (PHC), is part of the Andhra Pradesh’s broader efforts to improve healthcare access in hard-to-reach hilltop regions.

The Andhra Pradesh government has inaugurated its first container hospital, a prefabricated health sub-centre constructed using shipping containers, in Karadavalasa panchayat of Saluru mandal, Parvathipuram Manyam district. This innovative healthcare initiative is aimed at providing medical services to over 2,000 residents from over a dozen remote tribal hamlets in Saluru and Pachipenta mandals.

The container hospital, under the jurisdiction of Tonam Primary Health Centre (PHC), is part of the state’s broader efforts to improve healthcare access in hard-to-reach hilltop regions. Built to address the unique challenges faced by Adivasi communities, the facility is equipped with essential infrastructure and staffed to handle basic medical needs.

The hospital includes four beds, a TV, and a balcony for patients, as per a report on Times of India. A doctor from Tonam PHC will visit the hospital twice a week. On other days, a mid-level health provider, health assistant, auxiliary nurse midwife, ASHA worker, and community health worker will manage the operations, said the report.

The hospital will conduct around 15 types of medical tests, including screenings for pregnant women and iron sucrose injections for anaemia patients. The hospital will serve residents from tribal hamlets such as Bellapaka Boddapadu, Narinjapadu, Karadavalasa, Karadakottavalasa in Saluru mandal, and Chakirevuvalasa, Kankanapalli, Aajuru, and Kumbivalasa in Pachipenta mandal, said a report on India Today.

The state government’s decision to establish this container hospital is a significant step toward bridging the healthcare gap in tribal areas, where accessibility and infrastructure have long been challenges. This model, if successful, could pave the way for similar initiatives in other remote regions of the state.

The inauguration of this first-of-its-kind facility highlights Andhra Pradesh's commitment to ensuring that no community is left behind in accessing essential healthcare services.