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Healthcare At Stake
03 Jan 2017 12:35 PM
- Aarogyasree
scheme in ICUs with insufficient funds - Babu’s
conspiracy to water the scheme down - Government
interested in benefiting private sector - Babu
as the brand ambassador of insurance companies - ‘Aarogya Raksha’
only to benefit insurance companies
Earlier, people with
health ailments used to have the assurance of Aarogyasree scheme. The poor are
now tensed about ill-health and are having to sell their assets to meet the
medical needs. The demise of former CM Dr. YS Rajasekhar Reddy pushed the
healthcare sector of the state into a devastated state. With very few funds
being allocated to patients in ICU through Aarogyasree, the hospitals that once
showed enthusiasm to offer services to the poor are stepping back.
The poor usually
approach the Government hospitals as soon as they face any ill-health. But due
to the negligence shown by the Government, the healthcare system in the state
is slowly going under the shadow of private sector, the first step of the privatization
being the merger of Chittoor Government Hospital with Apollo.
Only to water down
Aarogyasree
Aarogyasree was a scheme
initiated by former CM, Dr. YS Rajasekhar Reddy, in order to offer quality
medical services to the poor. Chandrababu’s Government, that is supposed to
implement Aarogyasree efficiently while making the GHs better, has decided to
ignore its duty. AP CM Chandrababu Naidu has brought ‘Aarogya Raksha’ scheme
into picture, with the motto ‘Health For All’. He made it his first signature
in the new year. The name of the scheme may be misleading. This is, absolutely,
not something that provides free healthcare service. One should pay Rs.100 per
month, making the annual payment Rs.1200 for the insurance.
This is what private
insurance companies do. Chandrababu only ‘painted’ it with Government colour. Chandrababu’s
emphasis is on the statement that compared to private insurance policies, the
premium is very less. Aarogyasree (now being called as ‘NTR Vaidya Seva’) is
available any way. Moreover, there are more schemes for women, children and the
aged. In that case, what is the need for this ‘insurance policy’? Here lies the
catch. This is only to benefit private insurance companies and pocket
commissions.
Government hospitals in
sad state
If the Government wants
to help people, it should uplift the Government Hospitals in such a way that
they can approach them with multiplied trust. There is nothing new to mention
about the devastated state of GHs. The Government is not interested to look
into making them better, despite repeated exposure of their bad state by the
media. The menace of rats and ants in Guntur GH killing babies and the lack of
stretchers in Guntakal GH, leaving a woman with no option but to drag her
husband upstairs are only examples of the poor state of maintenance of GHs.
Incidents of lack of security leading to kidnap of newborn babies are
countless.
The CM is obviously not
concerned about these incidents. He is only inclined towards benefiting the
private sectors, rather than the people who have voted for him.
Healthcare industry in
private hands from now
Conduction of blood
tests, dialysis centres, 104 service, maintenance of medical apparatus and diagnostic services
including X-ray have been handed over to corporate organisations in the name of
e-UPHC. Recently, more services including cath lab have been ordered by
Chandrababu to be taken under the umbrella of PPP (Public Private Partnership)
system. MRI scanning machines and skill labs are also being planned to be transferred
to private companies. Plans are being made to nominally call for tenders in the
supervision of family welfare department but give away the project to their
favoured companies.
Desk management
privatised
Apart from medical
treatments in hospitals, related multi-person support services (administration
and management etc.) in medical college hospitals, district hospitals, area
hospitals and social health centres have been decided by Chandrababu in the
meeting conducted on the 22nd of November, to be privatized in PPP
system.