State negligence costs 50 medical seats in Paderu Medical College

Narasaraopet, November 19: YSRCP Doctors Wing Working President and former MLA Dr. Gopireddy Srinivasa Reddy strongly condemned the state government for its blatant negligence towards government medical colleges, which has resulted in Paderu Government Medical College losing 50 MBBS seats this year. 
Speaking to media at his camp office here on Wednesday, he said that the college, fully constructed and launched with 50 seats during YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tenure, lost its sanctioned seats solely because the present government failed to provide basic information sought by the National Medical Council regarding the affiliation process under NTR Health University. He said this shocking administrative incompetence has robbed poor tribal students of precious medical education opportunities and denied quality healthcare to remote communities.
Dr. Gopireddy revealed that the coalition government has even gone to the extent of writing to the NMC saying it “does not need seats,” despite the college being 100% ready with buildings and equipment arranged under the previous YSRCP government. Instead of procuring new equipment for upcoming colleges, the state has disgracefully started shifting valuable equipment from the completed Pulivendula Medical College to other institutions. He criticised the government for wasting hundreds of crores on summits, chartered flights, and publicity while failing to provide even basic infrastructure or documentation required to secure medical seats.
He lambasted the Health Minister, calling him a symbol of inefficiency, noting that network hospitals have not received Aarogyasri payments for over 20 days. While collectors warn hospitals not to charge patients, the government itself has not released dues beyond the earlier Rs. 250 crore. As a result, poor patients are suffering without access to essential healthcare. He demanded that the Health Minister be immediately removed from the cabinet for causing such a deep crisis in the medical sector.
Dr. Gopireddy expressed anguish that in tribal regions like Paderu, Parvathipuram Manyam, and Macharla—where people already travel up to 200 km for treatment—the government’s negligence is costing lives. He cited the recent tragedy where tribal schoolchildren had to be transported nearly 200 km to Visakhapatnam KGH, with two girls losing their lives. He urged the government to prioritise completion of medical colleges in underserved regions, take strict action against negligent officials responsible for losing the 50 seats, appoint competent officers, and restore the lost seats immediately.

He questioned why every medical college built by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is facing deliberate neglect under the current regime and demanded urgent corrective action to safeguard healthcare and medical education for the poorest communities.