Instead of renaming health centres as temples, ramp up infrastructure: SP MLA Rais Shaikh to Maha Govt

Samajwadi Party leader Rais Shaikh wrote a letter to Maharashtra Health Minister Tanaji Sawant on the issue

MLA Rais Shaikh Maharashtra Samajwadi Party

Shaikh wrote a letter to Maharashtra Health Minister Tanaji Sawant, demanding that instead of renaming the health centres to Ayushman Health Temples, the government should "improve the facilities and increase the provision of health infrastructure". (X/ rais_shk)

Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh on Tuesday criticised the Maharashtra government alleging it was playing emotional politics in the run-up to the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections and creating an illusion of development by renaming health centres and sub-centres.

Shaikh wrote a letter to Maharashtra Health Minister Tanaji Sawant, demanding that instead of renaming the health centres to Ayushman Health Temples, the government should “improve the facilities and increase the provision of health infrastructure”.

The Maharashtra Health Department has 8,128 sub-centres, 1,861 primary health centres, 609 civil primary health centres, 254 Ayush sub-centres and 394 civil health centres. These centres have been converted into Aarogyavardhini Kendras earlier. All these will now be renamed as ‘Ayushyaman Arogya Mandir-Arogyam Param Dhanam’. Following the directions from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in November 2023, the Director of the National Health Mission has ordered all collectors and CEO-Zilla Parishad to implement it.

“The condition of the health centres in the state is pathetic. Half of the posts in these centres are vacant. Only 3.67 per cent of the state budget is allocated to the health department. CM Eknath Shinde has announced to double this provision. But, compared to the year 2022-23, the provision of the health department in the year 2023-24 has been reduced in the revised budget. Medicines are not available in government hospitals. The state has had no Health Director for 5 months. Recommendations to prevent maternal and child mortality are not implemented,” said Shaikh.

Rais Shaikh said several patients have died in government hospitals in Chandrapur, Nanded, Thane-Kalwa, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. “The government is creating an emotional atmosphere by renaming the health centres ahead of the elections when the state’s health infrastructure is in shambles. The government is creating an illusion of improving the health system by renaming the health centres,” added Shaikh.

He said the Health Department’s announcements of free health facilities and insurance coverage to 12 crore citizens have turned out to be fraudulent.