The recent acid attack incident in Madanapalle has once again exposed the poor state of public healthcare in Andhra Pradesh. The victim was first rushed to Gurramkonda Government Hospital, but due to the absence of doctors, she had to be shifted to Madanapalle Government Hospital. Even there, lack of advanced medical facilities forced her to be taken all the way to Bengaluru for proper treatment.
This raises a crucial question—shouldn’t emergency care be available locally? Why should people have to travel hundreds of kilometers for basic medical treatment?
Jagan’s Vision vs. NDA’s Privatization Push
The previous YSRCP government sanctioned 17 new medical colleges to improve healthcare in rural areas:
✅ 5 colleges are already operational
✅ 5 more were set to open soon
However, after the NDA government came to power, these projects have stalled. There are reports that the government plans to privatize these institutions instead of completing them.
Even more concerning, the NDA government has written to the National Medical Commission (NMC) to cancel MBBS seats in medical colleges at Pulivendula and Paderu, raising doubts about their commitment to public healthcare.
Are Government Hospitals Being Neglected?
The situation in Tirupati Ruia Hospital is another example of poor management in public hospitals. The district collector recently expressed frustration over poor sanitation and negligence by staff.
With rising medical costs in private hospitals, public healthcare is the only hope for millions. If the NDA government fails to strengthen government hospitals, should common people be forced to depend on expensive private hospitals or travel long distances for medical care?
What’s at Stake?
🔹 Should public healthcare be privatized?
🔹 Will people in rural areas continue to suffer due to a lack of medical facilities?
🔹 Why is the NDA government delaying the completion of government medical colleges?
The Madanapalle incident is a wake-up call—strong public healthcare is not a luxury, it’s a necessity!
