MEFO criticises Govt on user charges in AIIMS

New Delhi, Aug 9 (UNI) The Medicos Forum for Equal Opportunities (MFEO) today came down heavily on the UPA government for its failure to implement the order withdrawing user charges in AIIMS.

''The Congress-led UPA government has failed to make Director of AIIMS P Venugopal comply with the orders issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to withdraw the user charges that were implemented from November 2005 on patients coming to AIIMS,'' MFEO convenor Vikas Bajpai said .

He alleged that the real intent of the Government was to make AIIMS an exclusive preserve of the rich.

''We condemn the anti-people attitude of the UPA government and demand that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh show alacrity in implementing the orders to withdraw 'user charges','' he added.

Dr Bajpai said the Ministry issued the withdrawal orders on August 4, stating that user charges be restored to as prevalent prior to November 2005.

''Besides requesting to put the same orders into effect immediately, the Ministry had demanded an action taken report on the same. The said orders were faxed to the Director of the Institute on August 4, the date of issuance itself,'' he added.

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