Political heat builds over Andhra's PPP push for medical colleges

Calling the move 'dangerous', the CPI held a protest in several locations of Vijayawada, including the hospital, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the order that empowers the establishment of government medical colleges under the PPP mode. The leaders warned that protests would intensify across the State if the government failed to reverse its decision.

Also read- 10 new medical colleges in Andhra to come up under PPP model

The party demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision on privatization of 10 new government medical colleges, as the move paves the way for medical education to be totally put into the hands of private parties.

"There is every danger of 25 per cent of seats of management quota being put out on sale at Rs 50 to Rs 60 lakhs for each seat. This keeps away the poor, common and middle-class people from medical education. Besides, the very quality of medical education would be affected," Madhu told UNI.

The CPI leader has further demanded that the proposed 10 new medical colleges be solely under government management. He made it clear that the party's agitation would not stop until the government dropped the idea of establishing the government medical colleges under the PPP mode.

CPI district secretary K Bodakonda, joint secretary Thokala Prasad, district executive members Saka Ramakrishna, AITUC leaders Ramayya, Anil, Madhukant Raju, Kishore, Sreenu Anandarao, Mahila Samakhya district president Padmakka, AIYF state joint secretary Y Bobby, and district Samithi member PS Narayana were among those who led the protest.

Commenting on the issue, CPI National Council Member J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy told The Hindu, "The previous YSRCP government had announced 17 new government medical colleges, and there was hope that the number of seats in government medical colleges would go up. However, the previous government had brought G.O. 107 and 108 and said that the seats would be filled through the ‘self-finance’ mode. The Left parties had then opposed that move. The TDP and JSP, which were then in the Opposition, had criticised the YSRCP government for planning to charge Rs 12 lakh under the 'management quota'. Now, after coming to power, the Alliance government, instead of withdrawing G.O. 107 and 108, is trying to hand over the medical colleges to private groups in the name of PPP."

Mr Murthy further added, "The PPP policy would result in the government lands, college buildings, and hospitals going into the hands of the private investors for about 60 years. Though the government was saying that a total of 1,000 medical college seats would be available, and 76% of them would be available to the poor, the remaining seats could be sold for prices ranging between Rs 50 and Rs 60 lakh, depriving the poor to that extent. He demanded the withdrawal of G.O. 107 and 108, and continuation of the new medical colleges, totally in the government sector."

Saying that privatisation of medical colleges would harm medical education in the state, a YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) delegation led by its president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy filed a complaint with Governor S. Abdul Nazeer against the PPP model for setting up medical colleges.

The YSRCP president, accompanied by scores of party leaders, met state governor Abdul Nazir at Lok Bhavan in Vijayawada and submitted more than 14 million papers carrying the signatures of various sections of people opposing the alleged privatisation of the medical colleges.

Party leaders said that if the order is not withdrawn, the issue will be taken to court. They added that the collected 1,04,11,136 signatures would be submitted, if needed, to show the seriousness of the matter.

Speaking to The Hindu, Reddy said "The YSRCP would not keep quiet if the government does not give up its plan to privatise the colleges, and that completion of the construction of the colleges which came to a pause in 2024, would require Rs 5,000 crore, and the government appeared to be reluctant to spend it from its Rs 2 lakh crore budget. The government owe an explanation for this."

Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy said that during the YSRCP government, one medical college was approved in every district to ensure free super-specialty services for people through teaching hospitals. He said completing the 17 medical colleges would increase the number of seats available to students.

He also pointed out that under the PPP model, land, buildings and staff would remain under government control, but the management of the colleges would be handed over to private players, who would earn the profits.

Medical Dialogues previously reported that the Supreme Court of India has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the adoption of a public-private partnership model for the development of government medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh. During the hearing of the case, the top court bench called the PIL "luxury litigation" and questioned why people are going "so crazy" about approaching the Apex Court.

The plea was filed by a doctor after the TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government, back in September, launched the PPP model for the completion of 10 medical colleges, which were sanctioned in previous years but were not completed. 

Also read- 'Luxury litigation': Supreme Court junks plea against Andhra's PPP model for medical colleges