Expressing serious concern at the persistence of Andhra Pradesh Government to go ahead with its proposal of privatising government medical colleges, Praja Arogya Vedika (PAV), an affiliate of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, has strongly opposed the Chandrababu Naidu government’s decision and reiterated its demand for withdrawal of the same.
In a letter to the Chief Minister on Friday (July 11, 2025) PAV president M.V. Ramanaiah and general secretary T. Kameswara Rao drew his attention to the recent revelations of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) exposing rampant corruption in private medical colleges at various places in the country including one private college in Visakhapatnam city.
Praja Arogya Vedika opposes privatisation of medical colleges
The investigation by the CBI has revealed corruption by the private colleges to manipulate the National Medical Commission (NMC) inspections by coming up with false records, ghost faculty, fake patients and hawala transactions to secure regulatory approvals. These incidents demonstrate the profit-driven motives of private institutions, which prioritise financial gain over the quality of medical education and public welfare.
They also noted that PAV had consistently raised these concerns through multiple channels, over the past months, including writing letters to the CMO and other authorities highlighting the dangers of privatising medical education. A number of round table meetings and seminars were held, bringing together intellectuals, stakeholders from the medical and health sectors, and the general public, all of whom unanimously opposed the privatisation of government medical colleges.
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These campaigns have garnered thousands of signatures from citizens across Andhra Pradesh, reflecting widespread public outrage against handing over public institutions to profit-driven entities. Government medical colleges are vital public assets, providing subsidised education to students from diverse backgrounds and affordable healthcare to marginalized communities.
Transferring their control to private entities risks skyrocketing fees, reduced accountability, and a further shift toward profit over service, as evidenced by the CBI’s findings. Such a move would disproportionately harm the ailing sections of society, who rely on these institutions for accessible medical care, and betray the State’s responsibility to uphold healthcare as a fundamental right.
They urged the State Government to immediately withdraw the proposal to privatise government medical colleges.
Published – July 11, 2025 03:46 pm IST
