VIJAYAWADA: The Central government is more interested in giving a healthy profile to the corporate industry rather than strengthening the government health bodies, complains former Special Chief Secretary to government M Chaya Ratan.
Addressing the people’s pre-budget consultation meeting in health industry, organised by Praja Arogya Vedika, in the city on Saturday, Chaya Ratan insisted on precise health budget allocations for public use rather than corporate beneficiaries. She demanded the Centre to allocate 4 per cent of the GDP to the health budget.
“Both the Centre and State governments are spending least amount on public health and a majority of the money is being paid to corporates. The State government is diluting the government health systems and nullifying the public schemes,” she alleged.
MLC Chandra Sekhar demanded the State government to allot sufficient funds to the health department in the next budget and not divert the same to corporate hospitals in the name of NTR Vaidya Seva. He demanded an inquiry into health insurance schemes and diversion of funds.
Former MP Chennupati Vidya said that health and education are the basic rights of every citizen. Against this backdrop, there is a need to launch agitations to create awareness among the people to check the corruption in health schemes, she added.