Top Ahmedabad hospital trustees tell Modi, Rupani: Allow public hospitals to flourish

By A Representative

In an “appeal” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, trustees of Chinai Maternity and Sarabhai General Hospitals, Ahmedabad, one of the biggest in Gujarat, have said that the hospital was “inspired by Gandhiji’s vision of trusteeship and Daridra Narayan, regretting, “poor patients” today are falling “within the cracks of the health system.”
The trust, which has been opposing privatization of the hospitals by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), said in a communiqué that “Sardar Patel in 1930 gave this vision to the better off families of Ahmedabad. The creation of the Chinai Maternity and Sarabhai General Hospitals was a fulfillment of that vision.”
It claimed, “During 85 years of ‘glorious service’ these institutions have flourished and brimmed over with patients. It provided a unique model of partnership between citizens and government that has worked and is worthy of emulation by the rest of the country.”
However, the communiqué said, “Despite the Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme , initiated by the Prime Minister, poor patients continue to fall within the cracks of the health system”, insisting, “There is an urgent need for them to access quality and free health services. The government has a responsibility to provide them free health care through the public health system and the city of Ahmedabad needs more beds within its public hospitals.”
Issued on the occasion of Gandhi’s 150 years birth centenary, it added, “No country can advance and prosper without the strong foundations of public health and education. This was the wisdom and legacy of Gandhi and Patel. Please let our public charitable hospitals live.”
The letter has been signed by Rupa Chinai, Brijesh Chinai, Jay Sheth and Dr Nishith Shah, all board members, Chinai Maternity and Sarabhai General Hospitals, Ahmedabad.

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