No plans to privatise public health sector, says K.Muraleedharan

Refuting reports that the State government is planning to usher in privatisation in the public health sector, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said that the State government only plans to make use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds of major corporates for the construction of new buildings in government hospitals. “Fake news is being spread that the government is planning to privatise the health sector. If all the government hospitals are privatised, can I occupy the chair of Health Minister? Can any democratically elected government think like that? My statement was that CSR funds can be used for constructing buildings. We need not give anything in return,” he said.

Mr.Muraleedharan said that as per the economic situation of the State outlined in the White Paper recently placed in the Assembly, the government has limitations in spending funds on new buildings. “We have to improve the ratio of doctors in government hospitals. Crores in debt have to be repaid. Amid all this, spending more on hospital development will be tough. It is in this scenario that CSR funds become beneficial. The government will take no initiative to promote private medical colleges. There is a lobby functioning to run down the public health system, whichever government is in power. One of our major agendas is to protect the public sector,” he said.

Regarding the Oommen Chandy Health Insurance Scheme, he said that the reports of it being limited to private hospitals are false. The State Cabinet or the United Democratic Front (UDF) are yet to discuss the modalities of the scheme, he said.