YSRCP flays coalition for privatizing medical colleges

Srikakulam/Anantapur, September 5: YSRCP has slammed the coalition government for privatizing medical education and demanded an immediate rollback of the decision, warning that it would push aspirants from poorer sections into deep uncertainty.

Speaking to the media at separate press conferences, former ministers Seediri Appalaraju and Sake Sailajanath strongly objected to the move of privatizing ten medical colleges under PPP mode. They said the decision would deprive weaker sections of the opportunity to pursue medical education, as it would be far beyond their financial reach.

They added that privatizing public health is an attack on social welfare and involves large-scale corruption, as medical colleges have vast land banks worth crores, which are now being handed over to private players on a platter. They alleged that privatization has always been Chandrababu Naidu’s ideology, and he has once again proved it, while YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had set up government medical colleges in all districts to make medical education accessible to poor students.

Chandrababu’s move, they said, is aimed at gradually withdrawing the government from public health and welfare. “The cabinet’s decision to hand over ten medical colleges under PPP mode is highly objectionable, and we strongly oppose it,” they asserted.

They further pointed out that under YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s leadership, 17 medical colleges were sanctioned, of which five are already functioning and another five, including Pulivendula, were ready to begin operations. However, the coalition government has put hurdles in the process and, worse, restricted the seats in the tribal Paderu Medical College to just 50. They also alleged that the Aarogyasri scheme has been diluted, with bills pending for months.