Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Aarogyasri: Lok Satta challenges Botsa for a debate

The Lok Satta Party today charged the Government with enriching private and corporate hospitals by aggressively promoting “Rajiv Aarogyasri” and by quietly withdrawing from the health care sector in its bid to privatize it.

In a strong rejoinder to Housing Minister Botsa Satyanarayana taking exception to Lok Satta Party’s criticism of “Aarogyasri”, party spokesman Karthik Chandra challenged the Minister for a public debate. Of the 7600 surgeries performed under “Aarogyasri” until December 1, 2007, 95 per cent had been done in private and corporate hospitals and that three hospitals groups cornered the lion’s share of the insurance amounts.

Mr. Karthik Chandra said it was a matter of shame that the Government advertised the scheme as a boon to the poor by arranging for 7600 surgeries till now, ignoring the grim reality that every year six million people were sliding below the poverty line, most of them unable to pay for their medical care. “Aarogyasri” covers only a few rare ailments but not ailments like gastroenteritis, diarrhea, malaria, encephalitis and dengue and dog and snake bites that plague the common man most.

Mr. Karthik Chandra said “Aarogyasri” was nothing but “corporatesri” in that it was meant to benefit them and not the poor people.

2 comments:

  1. Look at the situation in US, long back govt here introduced health insurance policy so that people can get better health coverage..but it is different, bcoz of insuranc phenomena prices shooted up such high that a common man , if he don't have insurance, he can't get treatment for simple ailments like fever
    If you allow this concept in india, things will be much worse than US, please don't allow insurance companies to do bussiness in india, esp in health system.
    instead of spending money in arogyasri or what ever, try to update the hospitals, maintain hygine conditions in it, thats really a million dollor achivement for our govts

    Mr JP sir, I admire your view on political system, i just listened to your interview on RadioKhushi.com, Your observation regarding vote banks and it system is absolutly true, my dad says who ever come to power eventually we are the "Losers", it does not make much difference for the people who are below poverty line.

    Hope you people get change in the society, atleat a few percent in your views make a big difference, and hope people will also realise and vote right person

    Best of luck to you and your party. Kudos to you all

    Thanks
    Praveen

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  2. I am a doctor based in UK, hoping to move shortly to hyderabad with an aim to provide quality treatment at affordable price.

    I appreciate your commitment and the issues raised by you, unfortunately most people have become so selfish these days that there is no value for life anymore in india.

    I would be grateful if you could raise the awareness of cross-infection from INADEQUATE STERLISATION/infection control practices in practically every hospital in AP(in fact india).I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY REGULATION OR LAW that these hospitalS abide by. It is a silent epidemic with more and more people becoming infected with HIV, hepatitis and other infection due to unethical practices.

    I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT IT WILL BE A MANMADE EPIDEMIC WITH SCORES OF INNOCENT PUBLIC IRRESPECTIVE OF ECONOMIC STATUS BECOMING VICTIMS.
    I HOPE YOU WON'T CONSIDER IT AS A NON-ISSUE SINCE IT ONLY REQUIRES AWARENESS AND REGULATION WHICH IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

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