BJP protests against Kerala govt’s ‘dismantling’ of public health sector for private hospital interests

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday (July 7, 2025) took out protest marches to the Kannur District Hospital and the Thalassery General Hospital demanding the resignation of Health Minister Veena George, alleging that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government is deliberately dismantling the public health sector to “benefit private hospital lobbies.”

In Kannur, the protest was inaugurated by former BJP State president K. Surendran, who accused the CPI(M) and the State government of “systematically destroying the public health care system to pave the way for private investment in super-speciality hospitals.

He said the BJP plans to intensify its protest until Health Minister Veena George steps down, claiming that her tenure has been “marred by corruption, inefficiency, and apathy” towards the public health infrastructure.

“In the past five years, a large number of private hospitals and super-speciality centres have come up across the State. Corporate players are investing heavily in private healthcare while government hospitals remain in shambles,“ Mr. Surendran said.

He said this is happening because “they have understood that the government is supporting and there is a conducive environment to start a hospital and exploit the people here.”

“Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claims that public hospitals are for the poor and are providing the best and world-class treatment. Neither he nor Ministers Veena George and M.B. Rajesh have trusted their government hospitals for their own treatment and care. Rather, they are going abroad and depending on the private hospital for their treatment,” he alleged.

Mr. Surendran alleged that there are no doctors or nurses in many government hospitals, with a third of the doctors either on leave, practising privately or having left the country.

“There are no permanent appointments, only contract staff. The centre under the National Health Mission allotted ₹7,500 crore, but where has the money gone? The CPI(M) is answerable,“ he said.

Recalling former Health Minister Minister K.K. Shailaja’s declaration of strict action against doctors engaged in private practice, Mr. Surendran said the situation has only worsened.

“The government has abandoned that promise. Even now, party cadres are being appointed without filing actual vacancies. More than 40 doctor posts are lying vacant in the Kannur government hospital,” he said.

He said the State government invited controversial vlogger Jyoti Malhotra for tourism promotion. “This was done with the complete knowledge of the government and the Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas,” he alleged.

BJP district north president K. Vinod Kumar and BJP national council member C. Raghunathan were among those who joined the protests.