TRS, CPI-M walk out of AP assembly over health issue

Hyderabad, Mar 9 (UNI) The opposition Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist CPI(M) staged a walkout in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly in protest against non-functioning of medical equipment and non-filling of vacancies in Government hospitals in the state.

Replying to a question by Ch Ramakrishna Reddy of the Congress, Health Minister K Rosaiah admitted that the situation in government hospitals was not up to the mark. However, he said the government is making all efforts to recruit doctors by providing University Grants Commission (UGC) scales, and the trend of government doctors resigning and going to private hospitals was reversing now.

After the Congress came to the power, over 2000 vacancies had been filled up, the Minister added.

Dissatisfied with the Minister's reply, CPI(M) floor leader Nomula Narasimhaiah and TRS floor leader Dr G Vijayarama Rao led their party members out.

Earlier forcing supplementary questions, Mr Ramakrishna Reddy said a large number of children were succumbing to diseases due to shortage of doctors, medicine and equipment in the Kurnool district hospital and asked the government to act fast to rectify the situation.

Mr Rosaiah also admitted that the Ministry was facing a lot of political pressure for evoking transfer orders of those posted to districts hospitals. The Government was trying its best to recruit doctors to work especially in tribal areas to improve the health situation, he further said.

UNI