Privatisation Of Rural Healthcare: Punjab Government Does A Volte-Face, Says No Such Move Was Being Planned

A day after issuing a public notice welcoming the privatisation of rural healthcare infrastructure, the Punjab government did a volte-face by saying there was no such move being planned, reports The Tribune.

According to the report, a public notice had appeared in various newspapers in which the state Health Department had invited expression of interest (EoI) for bids to run primary health centres, community health centres and urban community health centres in public-private partnership (PPP) mode. The move reportedly drew flak from the health employees’ union and social organisations.

However, state Health Minister Brahm Mohindra said the intention behind the move was to “strengthen the public healthcare system”.

He said due to various factors, state governments across the country were unable to attract an adequate number of specialists. “So, the public notice was issued to obtain ideas on how the government could provide quality healthcare even in remote areas,” Mohindra was quoted in the report as saying.

The Punjab Civil Medical Service Association (PCMSA) had declared its intent to launch an agitation against the move along with other employees of the health department.

“Punjab already leads the country in out-of-pocket costs of treatment, which is much higher than the national average. This will further worsen the situation,” state president of PCMSA Dr Gagandeep Singh was quoted in the report as saying.