TDP Turned Aarogyasri Into Lame Duck

20 Jan 2017 6:46 PM

PC Palli (Prakasam dist), Jan 20: Reiterating that Chandrababu Naidu government has turned Aarogyasri scheme into a sick and lame duck by watering down the spirit of the flagship medicare facility, Leader of Opposition has said that Rs 1,460 crores should be released for the scheme immediately.

Interacting with the kidney patients here on Friday he said: ‘when a requisition for Rs 910 crores was made for Aarogyasri, the TDP government has released Rs 568 crores of which Rs 368 are previous year’s arrears which shows the apathy of the State towards the health care of poor. We need at least Rs 1,460 crores as patients with renal failures and other ailments are not getting timely and full treatment with the meager funds.’

People suffering with kidney problems had told their miseries to YSRCP chief and narrated how the government was not taking care of dialysis in the required measure as it would cost about Rs 20,000 which they cannot afford. Many people have died as they could not get government support through Aargyasri, they said.

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that the Aarogyasri scheme has been watered down and after ‘we come to power we will infuse life into it and see that no poor person is deprived of quality medical facility.’

Even for cancer patients the funds released by the TDP government are not sufficient for the chemotherapy and 108 has become ineffective and people are losing hope on it while Asha health workers are not being paid salaries. These are all affecting the Aarogyasri scheme which the government should take steps to put things in place, he said.

In Prakasam district itself 424 kidney patients have died and 48 of the 52 mandals of the district are fluoride-affected areas. The government moves only after I announce my tour programme and the subject matter which I would be addressing. Chadrababu Naidu has released a GO sanctioning three dialysis units.

YV Subba Reddy has given Rs 12 lakh from his MP grant but the dialysis unit has not come up. He has also written many letters in this regard. The state should give an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the family whose member has died of kidney ailment, he said.