Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Closure of Government vaccine units decried

VISAKHAPATNAM: A resolution was passed by the Prajarogya Parirakshana Committee (People’s health protection committee) at its meeting here on Friday demanding revival of the Public Sector vaccine companies that were closed down by the Centre in 2008 and thereby ensure effective implementation of the National Immunisation Programme.

The speakers expressed the view that the objective of the Government in closing down the public sector vaccine companies was to pave the privatisation of the health sector in a phased manner. They felt that closure was not the solution if there was any truth in the claim that the public sector units were not following World Health Organisation (WHO) norms.

B.L. Narayana of People for India organisation said that while the WHO had recommended that five per cent of the GDP should be allocated to health, India was spending a mere 0.5 per cent. He deplored the lack of basic amenities in Government hospitals, non-availability of drugs and vaccines and staff .

He felt that handing over of the health sector to private companies would deprive the poor of medical facilities.

District Medical and Health Employees Union leader Rajeswara Rao said that despite tall claims by the State Government only one per cent were benefiting from the Rajiv Arogyasri scheme. The real beneficiaries were the corporate hospitals that were minting money at the cost of Government hospitals. Though the EMRI 108 service was laudable, the ultimate aim seems to be privatisation of health. While denying basic facilities to the staff, the Government was planning to split the Medical and Health Department into three to accommodate three ministers instead of one. Similarly, other departments were being split to cater to the whims and fancies of the powers that be.

Secretary of the Federation of Medical Representatives of India (FMRAI) T. Kameswara Rao said that the federation was planning to gather one crore signatures against the closure of public sector vaccine units. He appealed to all organisations to support the agitation that was intended to safeguard the health of the common people.

LIC Employees Union leader B.B. Ganesh spoke.

Indian Medical Association secretary M.V. Vijay Shekar, Jana Vigyana Vedika president Y.L. Narasinga Rao and All India Democratic Women’s Association leader Dakhsyani were among those who attended.

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