https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Public Health for Sale? Ex-IAS P.V. Ramesh Questions Andhra Govt’s PPP Model for Medical Colleges

Former IAS officer P.V. Ramesh asserts that the PPP model for ten medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh is unconstitutional and a dangerous shift of public assets into private hands. The move has stirred opposition from political parties, doctor associations and citizen groups, raising alarms over affordable medical education and public health.
PPP model
Indian Masterminds Stories

Vijayawada — Former IAS officer and ex-Special Chief Secretary of the Health, Medical & Family Welfare Department, P.V. Ramesh, during a conference held at MB Bhavan on Sunday, strongly accused the Andhra Pradesh government of pushing forward medical colleges under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model via Government Order No. 590 — declaring the move unconstitutional and a threat to the very rights of the citizenry. 

Why Ex-IAS P.V. Ramesh Questions Andhra Govt’s PPP Model for Medical Colleges

The state government under N. Chandrababu Naidu’s coalition has issued GO 590, signalling intent to bring 10 government medical colleges under a PPP arrangement. Essentially, public assets (land, infrastructure, hospitals) would be partnered with private investors/companies to complete, operate or manage these medical colleges and their attached hospitals. 

Ramesh criticises this strategy: he says it transfers the state’s duty — to provide education, healthcare and nutrition — onto the private sector under the guise of “fund-shortage” or “efficiency”. He terms it a violation of the constitutional right to life and dignified healthcare of citizens. 

Why it matters

Medical colleges are not just educational institutions—they supply doctors, house hospitals, and support public health infrastructure. Privatising them via PPP Model means the state may lose direct control over fees, reservation quotas, admissions, treatment policies and access.

Ramesh argues that even in high-ranking countries, health is treated as an investment, not a cost—and handing over vital public institutions to private entities converts a welfare duty into a business venture. 

The move has triggered concern because many of the proposed institutions are in backward districts of Andhra Pradesh, where public management is critical for equity. Former MLC K.S. Lakshmana Rao noted that pointing to fund-shortage to push PPP shows governmental irresponsibility. 

Political and stakeholder reaction

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has opposed the decision in strong terms, warning that PPP will make medical education unaffordable for weaker-section students and undermine public health. 

Read also: Central Government Transfers Two Judges from Allahabad High Court to Patna and Andhra Pradesh High Courts

The Forum for Development of North Andhra (FDNA) wrote to the Chief Minister demanding retention of all medical colleges in the public sector; they cited a stalled project in Makavarapalem as evidence that PPP may leave infrastructure in limbo. 

The state High Court recently declined an interim stay on the tendering process for these PPP colleges, stating that the policy decision of the government is not easily faulted just for being PPP-based. 

Key issues under discussion

Public asset transfer: GO 590 is understood by critics to open the door for public land/buildings/hospitals to be handed to private partners for the long term — critics say this is akin to privatisation of core welfare. 

Access & affordability: If private entities manage these colleges, fee-structures, reservation quotas and access for poor students may be compromised. Ramesh highlighted that this risks turning medical education into a high-fee business. 

Governance & accountability: Private participants may not be subject to the same accountability standards as fully government-run colleges. The shift from public governance to PPP management raises questions of transparency.

Fund-shortage justification: The government claims it lacks funds to complete the colleges under the fully public model; critics argue that fund-shortage is being used as a convenient pretext to privatise. 

Background of PPP Model 

During the previous YSRCP regime under Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, 17 medical colleges had been proposed across the state to expand healthcare-education access. The new government says that model was under-funded and slow. 

Read also: Who Is IAS Himanshu Kaushik? Andhra Pradesh Officer Transferred to UP Cadre After Marriage to Dr Diksha Joshi

The current government has adopted PPP as a tool to accelerate completion and reduce state burden, claiming savings in operational cost and quicker delivery. 

However, critics say nothing prevents the government from raising public funds or making joint-venture arrangements in a way that retains public governance; instead PPP Model is being used to hand over control.

What’s next

The conference chaired by Ramesh passed a resolution demanding immediate withdrawal of GO 590 and related orders (GO 107 & 108) tied to self-financing medical colleges. 

If the government proceeds, we can expect:

  • Wider protests from student/doctor associations and civil society
  • Legal challenges (already a PIL) ahead of full implementation
  • Intense political tussle ahead of any operationalisation of these colleges under PPP

Why public should care

Medical colleges are pivots of both education and health in a region. Decisions on how they are built, managed and funded will affect access to medical seats, quality of doctors produced, cost of treatment in government hospitals and long-term health outcomes for the state’s citizens. A shift in model may alter this landscape for decades.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
NETRA Mk-2
India’s Ultimate Sky Spy: NETRA Mk-2 to Detect Threats 500 km Away Before They Strike
Yogi Adityanath Ayodhya visit in Diwali
Yogi Adityanath Ayodhya visit in Diwali: CM Distributes Sweets & Fruits in , Nishad Basti Re-affirms Inclusive Diwali for All
Su-30MKI RCS reduction upgrade
India’s Su-30MKI Get RCS reduction upgrade: Radar-Absorbent Paint Entering Fleet Trials
PPP model
Public Health for Sale? Ex-IAS P.V. Ramesh Questions Andhra Govt’s PPP Model for Medical Colleges
200 MW modular nuclear reactors
From Factories to Ships: India’s 200 MW Nuclear Reactors Set to Change the Game
NAPA
Senior Punjab Bureaucrats & Legislators Under Fire: North American Punjabi Association Demands for CBI Monitoring of IAS/IPS/PCS Officers and Elected Representatives
Rajasthan IAS officer recall
Rajasthan IAS officer recall: Govt Seeks Return of IAS Officers Rohit Kumar and Siddharth Mahajan from Centre Amid Staff Crunch
dig-bhullar-file-photo
Punjab IPS Officer Harcharan Singh Bhullar Faces New FIR Over Liquor Seizure at Samrala Farmhouse
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Ruchi Jat MPPSC
She Worked in Fields, Danced Ghoomar - Now She’ll Govern Districts: Ruchi Jat Cracks MPPSC 2024 with Rank 6, Becomes Deputy Collector
From a farmer's daughter in Pipalkhunta to securing 6th rank in MPPSC 2024, Ruchi Jat's inspiring journey...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
NETRA Mk-2
India’s Ultimate Sky Spy: NETRA Mk-2 to Detect Threats 500 km Away Before They Strike
Yogi Adityanath Ayodhya visit in Diwali
Yogi Adityanath Ayodhya visit in Diwali: CM Distributes Sweets & Fruits in , Nishad Basti Re-affirms Inclusive Diwali for All
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT