Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Oct 28: Mr Sanjay Meshack, Ward Councilor, Port Blair Municipal Council has raised voice against “alleged move” of handing over government land building machinery, worth crores, to private sector.
In a letter addressed to the Lt Governor, Mr Meshack said that at present ANIIMS, GB Pant hospital treats all its patients for free of cost therefore the private sector if it continues the same policy will have to spend Rs 150-200 crores per year to provide the same facilities.
“The only way this sum can be recovered would be through the fees of the students as well as the patients,” Mr Meshack said.
He said that at present the student pays approximately Rs 70000 per year as fees which amount to Rs 3.5 crores per year for all the students enrolled in ANIIMS and to recover the 200 crores the fess would be raised to approximately 40 lakhs per year for student.
Mr Meschack stated that 85% percent of the ANIIMS students are from the local population and cannot afford to pay even a fraction of that amount. “To the best of our knowledge the costliest private medical colleges don’t charge anywhere close to this amount as fees,” Mr Meshak said.
He further stated that under these circumstances, the private sector, not known for its perpetual philanthropy will be forced to recover most of the 200 crores from the patients and this would constitute a colossal burden on the local economy, forcing a significant proportion of the island population below the poverty line.
Mr Meshack further said that approximately 20% of all the patients admitted in ANIIMS GB Pant hospital are either destitute or solitary, with no attendants thus, the government pays for their treatment, post privatization this patient would be left to the mercy of market forces, Mr Meshack added.
