APCC President YS Sharmila protested at Andhra Ratna Bhavan in Vijayawada on Wednesday demanding the immediate release of Arogya Sri funds in the wake of the government failing to pay Aarogyasri (NTR Vaidya Seva) bills and private hospitals providing services. She protested while holding a stretcher while soaking in the rain. She warned that she would go on a fast unto death if Aarogyasri services were not restored immediately.
Sharmila expressed concern that Arogya Sri has been changed to Aarogyasri. If YSR became a God by introducing Aarogyasri scheme, she deplored that Chandrababu Naidu became a monster by stopping the scheme. She demanded that the scheme be continued no matter what the name Aarogyasri is.
She said that she has no objection even if it is renamed as Naravari Arogya Seva. She wanted Rs 2700 crores to be released to Network hospitals immediately. She asked the coalition government about where its intelligence has gone.
Sharmila alleged that there is a conspiracy to shut down the Aarogyasri scheme and accused that an attempt is being made to put the Aarogyasri scheme in a coma. She asked where the injustice is in this. The scheme that brought great fame to YS is Aarogyasri, and the scheme was designed after knowing the hardships of the people by going on a padayatra.
Looking at the coalition government’s stance, Sharmila said that private hospitals have stopped medical services for the last 14 days because the bills have not been paid. She deplored that patients are facing serious problems due to the suspension of medical services by private hospitals. Sharmila demanded that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu answer this.
She questioned who will answer the sufferings of those who are not getting Aarogyasri? She asked whether if Aarogyasri is taken away, they should sell their properties again and get treatment? Otherwise, she expressed concern that they should die because they did not get treatment.
She asked why you are in the post of Chief Minister if you do not provide health security? She said that the coalition government had incurred bills worth Rs 5900 crore in the 16 months of its rule, of which only Rs 5200 crore had been paid. She said that another Rs 700 crore had to be paid.
