Kerala CM Vijayan accuses BJP-led Centre of trying to steal credit for states healthcare achievements

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has accused the BJP-led Centre of trying to steal the credit for the states achievements in healthcare by renaming primary health centers as Ayushman Arogya Mandir.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday alleged that the BJP-ruled Centre was trying to steal the credit for the state's achievements in healthcare by renaming primary health centers as Ayushman Arogya Mandir.

Vijayan Questions Centre's Direction to Rename Health Centers

Vijayan said the Centre's direction to complete the renaming of primary health centers by December 31 was not healthy. He questioned why the renaming was being forced when the health sector was fully under the control of the states.

CM Alleges Centre Withholding Funds

The CM alleged that the Centre was withholding various grants, allocations, and central share in projects by claiming that Kerala had not carried out co-branding. He said this was not correct as the state had carried out co-branding in 99 percent of the 6,825 healthcare institutions and conveyed the same to the Union Health Ministry in October last year.

Healthcare Achievements of Kerala

The CM also listed out the various achievements by Kerala in healthcare, like least maternal and child mortality, most free treatments, the first state to launch Antibiogram, the first to implement the Mother Child Friendly Hospital Initiative, the state where more than 6,500 babies were given free heart surgery, etc.

The Chief Minister's allegations have sparked a political debate in the state, with the opposition BJP accusing him of trying to politicize the issue of healthcare. However, Vijayan has maintained that he is only standing up for the rights of the state and its people.