Bhopal: In a recent development, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA) has criticized the Madhya Pradesh government's decision to privatize 10 district hospitals. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, the NGO has urged the government to withdraw the notification and deny the private entities power to manage these hospitals.
The organization has called for a boycott of private intervention in the health sector. The government's move aligns with the Niti Aayog's proposal and affects districts such as Katni, Morena, Panna, Balaghat, Bhind, Dhar, Khargone, Sidhi, Tikamgarh, and Betul. JSA's letter highlights the importance of strengthening the public health system rather than transferring control to private entities, reports the Times of India. The NGO's opposition is rooted in the history of unsuccessful attempts by the state government to privatize government-run hospitals.
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In a joint statement by NGO representatives, Amulya Nidhi, SR Azad, Dhirendra Arya, and Sudha Tiwari said, “Today, the need is to strengthen the public health system and ensure health services for all without discrimination and not to hand over public health institutions to private hands.”
In 2016, the state's decision to subcontract health services at the Alirajpur District Hospital and the Community Health Centre in Jobat encountered significant challenges. Similarly, an initiative involving Indore's MY Hospital in 2012 faced resistance from both doctors and the public, leading to its eventual abandonment, reports the Daily.
“That too was unsuccessful and due to opposition from doctors and the public, the govt had to withdraw this decision,” said Nidhi. JSA member Amulya Nidhi has also pointed to the Karnataka government's Arogya Bandhu scheme, which involved private participation but was ultimately deemed unsuccessful by the government's own evaluation. The NGO's stance underscores the need for a robust public health system and cautions against relying on privatization as a solution to healthcare challenges.
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Jan Swasthya Sahayata Abhiyan has been formed by the Healthcare Research and Development Board (Division of Social Welfare Organization “NAC”) to provide affordable, free and better treatment with health-related assistance to poor and needy people. The purpose of the organization is to provide better treatment by special doctors, medicines and medical tests to the poor and needy people of the country through Jan Swasthya Sahayata Abhiyan, also motivating people to follow the guidelines given by the government to stay safe from COVID-19 by organizing awareness programs and providing health-related support as well as providing yoga and exercise training.