In Andhra Pradesh, CM Naidu’s PPP bid to build medical colleges planned by Jagan draws Oppn’s ire
Two years after Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated five medical colleges simultaneously, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) are locked in a war of words over how to develop the remaining colleges planned by the previous Andhra Pradesh government.
The Chandrababu Naidu administration has announced the establishment of 10 new medical colleges under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, a move strongly opposed by the YSRCP.
This comes after last year’s decision to restore the name of the state health university to Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, replacing Dr. YSR-UHS (named after Jagan’s father and former Chief Minister YSR Reddy). Together, these moves are seen as the NDA government reshaping Jagan’s blueprint for the health sector.
Until 2019, Andhra Pradesh had only 12 government-run medical colleges. To strengthen public healthcare, Jagan initiated the establishment of 17 new colleges, with the aim of having at least one in each of the state’s 26 districts.
Each institution was planned as a medical hub on a 50-acre campus, at an estimated cost of ₹500 crore, designed to link tertiary care with Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and village clinics.
- Paderu, Machilipatnam, and Piduguralla were sanctioned under Centrally Funded Schemes (CSS).
- Rajahmundry, Eluru, and Nandyal colleges received funding through the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI).
- The remaining 11 colleges were tied up with NABARD funding.