Jagan’s Medical Colleges Claim: What Is Ground Reality?

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy visited Narsipatnam to inspect the under-construction Medical College. The YSR Congress Party continues to oppose building these colleges under the PPP Model. The party argues that the Government wants to privatize the institutions meant for poor students.

However, the reality appears different. According to Eenadu, the YSRCP government first sanctioned the college for the Anakapalli district headquarters. Due to land issues there, officials acquired 52.15 acres of farmland from poor cultivators at Bhimaboyanapalem in Makavarapalem mandal, 38 km from Anakapalli.

The Government approved the project on August 8, 2022, estimating a cost of ₹500 crore. Jagan Mohan Reddy laid the foundation stone on December 28, 2022, with a 30-month completion target. But only ₹11.7 crore of the total ₹500 crore was spent. Construction stopped before elections, leaving some buildings only at pillar level.

An RTI response later revealed surprising facts. Of seven medical colleges that applied for central approval, only Piduguralla, Paderu, and Machilipatnam received it. Eluru, Vizianagaram, Markapuram, and Pulivendula did not. The RTI also confirmed that the Centre had no proposal for the Narsipatnam Medical College.

Launching a ₹500 crore project without Central Government approval raises serious questions. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh is facing a severe cash crunch. To manage costs, the Government plans to save around ₹3,700 crore in construction and ₹500 crore annually in operational expenses by adopting the PPP Model for ten medical colleges.

Government medical colleges already struggle with staffing shortages-59% of assistant professor posts remain vacant, and only 41% of super-specialty positions are filled. Private participation can ease this burden. Officials have clarified that PPP is not privatization. Private entities will handle operations, but the Government will regulate admissions, fees, and curriculum. PPP colleges will also have much lower fees than private medical institutions.