YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his sister YS Sharmila may currently be estranged over political and financial matters, and Sharmila may have turned into one of her brother’s fiercest critics.
Yet, a recent statement by her has indirectly vindicated Jagan’s stand on a key public health issue.
The Aarogyasri scheme, now being run as the NTR Vaidya Seva Network, has hit a crisis in Andhra Pradesh after private hospitals went on strike.
The hospitals claim the government owes them â¹2,700 crore in arrears for treatments provided under the scheme.
Sharmila pointed out that outpatient services have been completely halted for over a month and expressed deep regret that the government has failed to take any meaningful steps to resolve the issue.
She criticized the TDP government for engaging private insurance companies to extend healthcare services, calling it a ploy to dismantle the Aarogyasri scheme altogether.
Interestingly, her stance aligns with Jagan’s position.
The former Chief Minister has been strongly opposing the privatization of medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh and has announced state-wide protests and a one crore signature campaign to pressure the government to roll back the move.
Jagan reminded the public that during his tenure, 17 new medical colleges were established to strengthen government healthcare.
He accused Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of handing these institutions over to private players, pushing the poor away from essential healthcare.
Calling hospitals “modern temples,” Jagan warned that privatization would allow private players to exploit the poor and put public health at risk.
His argument is hard to dismiss. Private hospitals are business entities listed on stock exchanges, where profit is the primary motive.
The more medical institutions remain under government control, the better the chances of ensuring affordable healthcare for the poor.
When private hospitals stop treating the poor and there are no alternatives available, what will be their fate?
Sharmila’s remarks, though unintended, have amplified the same uncomfortable question Jagan has been asking.