Amid PPP row, Andhra CM assures no compromise on medical education, healthcare
Andhra Pradesh: Currently, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model is being adopted for the construction of medical colleges across India. In this regard, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has instructed officials to proceed with this model to ensure that economically weaker sections have access to high-quality, corporate-level healthcare.
He also directed officials to effectively counter the misinformation being spread about the PPP model by clearly explaining its objectives and safeguards.
A review meeting on the Medical and Health Department was held at the Secretariat on Wednesday. During the meeting, Mr Naidu reiterated that equal access to healthcare for all remains a top priority for the government. He emphasised that the government will not compromise on providing quality medical education and healthcare services to the poor.
According to The Hindu news report, the official briefed the Chief Minister on the guidelines and policy framework issued by the central government for promoting hospitals and medical colleges under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. They explained that the Government of India, through the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance, has launched several financial support mechanisms to promote PPP projects, with a special focus on the social and health sectors. The Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme was a key component of this initiative.
Under the VGF scheme, financial assistance for eligible PPP healthcare projects was proposed to be shared equally by the central and state governments. Of the total 60% financial support envisioned for projects in the medical sector, both the central and state governments would contribute 30% each. Officials also informed Mr Naidu that approvals have already been granted under this scheme for hospitals and medical colleges in states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
Apart from this, in the first phase, tenders were invited on September 18 for the construction and operation of medical colleges in Adoni, Madanapalle, Pulivendula, and Markapuram. Six national and international companies participated in the pre-bid meeting held on October 6.
At the request of the bidders, site visits were facilitated. A second pre-bid meeting was held on October 23. Based on the feedback, the government agreed to some proposals, such as providing up to 50 acres of land for each project, flexibility in design as per National Medical Commission (NMC) norms, and increasing the number of consortium partners from two to three. Officials stated that one firm has come forward to take up the Adoni Medical College project.
Strong opposition to the government's plan to run 10 new government medical colleges under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model has continued for several months.
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
