MPP and CPI (M) oppose to health sector privatisation
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 07 2013 :
Manipur People's Party (MPP) and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) have categorically termed the privatisation process in health sector as a desperate attempt to eliminate the poor people which is truly criminal in nature and against the interest of the general public.
Talking to media persons in this regard, O Joy, Advisor of MPP, has stated that although privatisation of Thoubal District Hospital, Churanchandpur District Hospital, Bishnupur District Hospital, Ukhrul District Hospital and Moreh District Hospital under PPP model, may help in strengthening the health care facilities as well as in maintaining quality in providing health care facilities to the people, however, the poor people of the State would not be in a position to get treatment in these hospitals anymore.
While recalling the incident in which the Congress and the Left Front objected to the decision of the then NDA government led by Atal Bihari Baspayee to privatise health sector, O Joy questioned the intention of the present O Ibobi led Congress Government in the State over the move to privatize health sector in Manipur.
"Such move of the government is anti-people", he added.
Meanwhile, interacting with media persons on another occasion, Sarat Salam, State Secretary, CPI (M), Manipur State Council, asserted that privatization of priority sectors like health, food and education is an act to destroy the State and its people, majority of whom are poor.
CPI (M) would never support turning of health sector into a business venture.
With privatization of health sector in the State, the rate of OPD ticket which is now Rs 10-20 would drastically increase to Rs 200 to 500.By then, the poor people of the State would have no chances of going to the hospital for treatment, he predicted.
The move of the State Government is against "Health for All" which is the slogan of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
This should be opposed by the CSOs in the State including women organizations or else the future of Manipur would be bleak, he exhorted.
The matter should also be taken up for thorough discussion in an all political party meeting, the CPI (M) leader demanded.