Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 23: Up in arms against the Government move of introducing Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode in Government hospitals, para-medical staff and people held a joint protest demonstration at Super-Specialty Hospital Jammu, here today.
They raised slogans against the Minister for Medical Education Taj Mohi-ud-Din and his policy of PPP mode. They also threatened to gherao the Minister if the decision on PPP mode in Government hospitals is not reviewed.
The protesters alleged that the policy of PPP mode will lead to privatization of Government hospitals, mainly Super Specialty Hospital Jammu where poor patients will suffer at the hands of private parties.
The installation of equipments on PPP mode within the Government Medical Colleges will also adversely affect the sanctity of these institutions as the private players will not allow the resident staff to handle their equipments while basic training of doctors will also get affected, the protesting para-medical staff said and appealed the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to direct the Minister for Medical Education Taj Mohi-ud-Din to review the decision.
Meanwhile, Doctors Association has also castigated the Government move on PPP mode and said that the policy would lead to privatization of the Government hospitals.
In a statement, president of the Association Dr Nisar ul Hassan alleged that the Government was promoting PPP mode with a sole motive to mint money from private firms, which will be using the Government hospitals for earning profit from poor patients.
On one hand the Minister for Medical Education admits lapse of funds while on the other hand says that PPP mode has been conceived because of financial constraints of the State, he added and threatened to agitate against the alleged privatization of Government hospitals.
Pertinent to mention that GMC Teachers Association has already aired its reservations against the PPP mode in Government hospitals.
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