MP govt’s plan to privatize district hospitals and establish medical colleges flops

The Madhya Pradesh government had floated a tender inviting private players to take over operations of state-run hospitals in 12 of the state’s districts, provided they also establish a 100-seat medical college in each district and attach them with these hospitals. Additionally, according to announcements by top health policymakers, 348 community health centres (CHCs) and 51 civil hospitals in the state would have been outsourced.

Amid intense pressure from different quarters when nearly ten grassroots organizations, supported by Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), took to the streets on November 30, protesting against any bid to introduce privatization in government hospitals with the slogan: “Haspatal bachawa, jiyau bachawa (save the hospital, save a life).” The proposal is now being reworked. The tender is being scrapped, and a fresh tender with the new changes in its clauses will be issued.
MB Bureau