Privatisation of govt hospitals opposed

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh government should pro-actively take technology to the rural areas for the provision of better health care to the people, said K Sujatha Rao, former Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

• Former Union Health Secretary Sujatha Rao urges the State govt to improve health care in rural and tribal areas
• Says govt should increase budgetary allocations for health
• Vacant posts should be filled up

Delivering key-note address at a seminar on ‘Public Health in Navyandhra, Challenges and Solutions’ organised by the Prajarogya Vedika in Vijayawada on Sunday, she said that recent National Family Health Survey (NFHS) has stated that Andhra Pradesh was in top for spending crores of rupees for better medication.

Privatisation of government hospitals was the main reason in ruining the public health care in the residual Andhra Pradesh, she opined. Rural and tribal areas in particular continue to face neglect in terms of health services and medical infrastructure resulting in more number of deaths.

Instead of privatising the health sector, the State government should focus on allocating adequate budget to develop basic amenities in the hospitals, primary health care centres and medical colleges, she said. Sujatha Rao appealed to the State government to fill the vacant posts to strengthen the public health care in the State.

Measures should be taken by the government in operating the 104, 108 ambulance services during emergencies in the interest of public health care. She also wanted the government to focus on providing better medication facilities at affordable prices to the people.

Dr PSN Murthy, Vijayawada chapter president of the Indian Medical Association, Dr S Sudhakar of Praja Vaidyasala, Jana Vignana Vedika (JVV) Health Department convener Dr S Suresh, AP Medical and Sale Representatives Union (APMSRU) joint secretary UV Krishnayya and others participated in the seminar.