A former IAS officer, P.V. Ramesh, recently asserted that access to quality healthcare is a constitutional right for every citizen, emphasizing it as a core responsibility of the government. His comments were made during a roundtable discussion in Vijayawada, jointly organized by Jana Vignana Vedika and Praja Arogya Vedika. The event focused on the potential adverse effects of implementing a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for medical colleges across Andhra Pradesh.
Mr. Ramesh argued passionately that public health should never be viewed as a governmental ‘charity’ but rather as an essential legal entitlement. He highlighted that investments in public health are crucial for future societal well-being, citing examples from many developed nations where governments fully shoulder healthcare costs. He vehemently opposed the state government’s push for the PPP model, cautioning citizens against accepting the government’s narrative without critical thought, especially regarding the profitability motives of private entities in such partnerships.
Furthermore, Mr. Ramesh pointed out that Andhra Pradesh already lags significantly behind other southern states in key health indicators. He warned that adopting the PPP model would likely exacerbate these existing challenges. Addressing the Health Minister’s recent justification of the PPP model due to financial constraints, Mr. Ramesh countered, questioning why the government, capable of securing multi-crore loans for other projects, couldn’t allocate ₹6,000 crore to ensure state-run medical colleges.
Adding to the critique, Geyanand, former State president of Jana Vignana Vedika and former MLC, remarked that while neo-liberal economic ideologies are nearing their end globally, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu appears to remain committed to them. Geyanand also expressed concerns about the proposed universal health policy, which aims to merge the Ayushman Bharat and NTR Vaidya Seva schemes, fearing it would inadvertently increase the involvement of private insurance providers.
The discussion saw participation from numerous activists, doctors, and community leaders. Notable attendees included T. Kameswara Rao, State Secretary of Praja Arogya Vedika; K. Lakshmana Rao, State President and former MLC of Jana Vignana Vedika; Tavva Suresh, State Secretary of Jana Vignana Vedika; and Madhav Rao, Secretary of the All India Lawyers’ Association.