Vijayawada: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Andhra Pradesh State Committee convened a round-table conference here on Sunday, vehemently opposing the state government’s plan to privatize medical colleges through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). Chaired by State Secretary V. Srinivasa Rao (VSR), the gathering united doctors, health activists, and representatives from various organizations, who collectively demanded an immediate end to the initiative.
The conference criticized the TDP coalition government’s PPP policy, arguing it would exclude low and middle income groups, including those from reserved categories, from accessing medical education. Participants accused the policy of facilitating the complete privatization of the healthcare sector by transferring public assets to private entities at negligible cost. They called for a united front involving political parties, intellectuals, and public groups to resist this move.
V. Srinivasa Rao denounced the privatization of government medical colleges as unacceptable, alleging that the TDP-led coalition is deceiving the public. He highlighted that previous government had partially completed some college buildings, yet the current administration was showcasing empty sites to justify the PPP model. Rao revealed that 30 to 50% of construction work in the targeted colleges was already completed and demanded the withdrawal of a plan to lease these buildings to private entities for 60 years. He suggested that allocating ₹5,000 crore at once or ₹600 crore annually in the state budget could complete these projects within five years, emphasizing that education and healthcare under government control are essential for human development.
Dr. Alla Venkateswara Rao, President of the Medico Parents Association, criticized Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for privatizing public property, which contradicts his promise to create wealth. Privatization of medical colleges will not only affect students from reserved categories but also the economically backward category, he added. Citing Gujarat’s PPP model, where fees range from ₹8 lakh to ₹30 lakh depending on the category, he warned of a future where only the wealthy could afford medical education, undermining merit due to financial burdens. He also alleged that private colleges engage in irregularities, including falsifying data to the National Medical Commission (NMC) for seat allocations.
Other speakers, including CPI(M) State Secretariat member Y. Venkateswara Rao, Public Health Forum President Dr. M.V. Ramanaiah, and PDF MLC Borra Gopi Murthy, echoed these sentiments. They recalled past student and youth movements against privatization, notably the campaign that led to the fall of Janardhan Reddy’s government, and urged similar resistance now. Dr. Ramanaiah highlighted that government-run colleges focus on service, while privatization would shift the focus to profit, exacerbating healthcare costs for the marginalized. Gopi Murthy noted that public hospitals were the only lifeline during the COVID-19 pandemic, contrasting with the closure of corporate facilities.
The President of Jana Chaitanya Vedika V. Lakshman Reddy accused Naidu, who served as Chief Minister for 15 years without establishing a single government medical college, and now attempting to privatize existing public Hospitals.
Former Minister Vadde Shobanadreeswara Rao condemned private hospitals for conducting unnecessary tests that plunge low-income families into financial ruin, while accusing the TDP of reversing its stance. He pointed out that the party, which previously opposed self-financed courses under the YSRCP government, is now fully embracing privatization, a move he described as a betrayal of public trust.
PDF ex-MLC K.S. Lakshmana Rao pointed out that the medical colleges slated for privatization are mostly in underdeveloped areas, where completed facilities could drive regional growth and healthcare access.
CPI(ML) leader Jasti Kishore Babu highlighted the contrast between N.T. Rama Rao’s nationalization of private hospitals and Naidu’s current push for privatization, while CPI State leader P. Jamalaiah accused the PPP policy of being a scheme to transfer land to private firms under the guise of providing service.
The round-table, attended by leaders from diverse organizations including SFI, AISF, and farmers’ unions, unanimously adopted a resolution urging the government to abandon the PPP policy, manage 10 medical colleges, and enhance public hospitals.
