SUCI protests privatisation of Palanpur Civil Hospital

Ahmedabad, June 17 (UNI) The Gujaat unit of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) today staged protests to condemn the state government's decision to hand over the 275-bed Palanpur Civil Hospital to the Wockhardt Hospital Management in a public-private partnership.

SUCI state organising committee member Jayesh Patel said providing medical care is the fundamental responsibility of the state government and it should not shirk this responsibility.

Last Wednesday, in the presence of Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Wockhardt Hospitals chairman Habil Khorakiwala, an MoU was signed between Wockhardt and the State Government in this regard.

As per the agreement, Wockhardt Hospitals will run the hospital and will provide free treatment to patients below the poverty line.

Thirty-three per cent of the beds will be kept aside for such patients. Another 33 per cent of the patients will be provided treatment on no profit-no loss basis while the rest of the patients will have to pay the prevalent medical costs.

The agreement is initially for a period ten years to be renewed for another ten years by mutual consent.

UNI