A 48-hour fast by CPI(M) demanding the cancellation of GO 33 on privatisation of super speciality hospital Visakhapatnam Institute of Medical Sciences and running the hospital by the government began at Hanumantavaka Junction on Tuesday.
The TDP government issued the GO to privatise services in three phases and the land of the hospital established in 100 acres was also sought to be given to private persons, CPI(M) city secretary B. Ganga Rao said inaugurating the hunger strike camp.
He demanded that the GO be cancelled and the hospital be run by the government by appointing doctors, nurses and other staff on a permanent basis and sanctioning ₹100 crore every year.
‘Quality health services’
This would help provide quality health services to people from North Andhra as well as from the other parts of the State, he said.
Asserting that CPI(M) would continue to fight against any move to privatise VIMS, Mr. Ganga Rao challenged the TDP leaders for an open debate. Among the 11 members on the 48-hour fast are CPI(M) city secretariat member R.K.S.M. Kumar, V. Krishna Rao and K. Kumari.
Forum for Development of North Andhra general secretary A. Aja Sarma, former DM&HO P. Rama Rao, AITUC leader Padala Ramana and AIDWA city vice-president A.V. Padmavati spoke.