Coalition Govt renders Aarogyasri ineffective

Palasa, April 7: Former Minister and YSRCP Doctors’ Wing State President Seediri Appalaraju lambasted the coalition government for crippling the Aarogyasri scheme within 10 months, an unprecedented decline in its 20-year history. Speaking in Palasa, he accused the government of stalling healthcare services statewide for three months by failing to clear Rs. 3,500 crore in pending bills, despite 26 appeals from the AP Specialty Hospitals Association (ASHA). This inaction has led network hospitals to halt treatments, jeopardizing free healthcare for the poor.
He stated that CM Chandrababu Naidu deliberately weakened Aarogyasri, shifting it from a trust-based system to a premeditated hybrid insurance model involving private firms. He noted that even on World Health Day, no relief was offered, effectively dismantling a scheme launched by YS Rajasekhara Reddy two decades ago. ASHA’s prior strike notice was ignored, underscoring the government’s neglect of public health. In a press meet, Chandrababu briefly mentioned Aarogyasri, casually remarking that the Finance Secretary had “given up” on clearing dues, Appalaraju said.
Contrasting this with YSRCP’s tenure, he emphasized that quality education and healthcare are people’s rights, now undermined by Chandrababu, reducing citizens to dependency. Hospital managements reported no access to the Chief Minister in 10 months. Since January 6, 2025, outpatient services, EHS, and cashless treatments under Aarogyasri have been suspended, a historic disruption. Appalaraju criticized the Chief Minister’s hour-long presentation for lacking solutions, questioning the need for public PowerPoint displays over actionable governance.