Thrissur, 21 Feb (H.S.):Senior BJP leader Shobha Surendran on Saturday levelled serious allegations against the CPI(M), claiming that the party received a ₹4 crore donation from a company linked to a U.S.-based corporate group, and accused the Kerala government of facilitating the expansion of private hospital networks in the state.

Addressing a press conference in Thrissur, Shobha alleged that CPI(M) accepted the funds from P One Infrastructure Private Limited, which she described as a subsidiary of the American investment giant Blackstone Inc. She claimed to have released documents purportedly showing that the party received ₹4 crore as a contribution.

According to Shobha, the company had no business presence in Kerala until 2021 but subsequently acquired several private healthcare institutions across the state. She alleged that the expansion of this private hospital network took place with the knowledge of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPI(M) leadership.

The BJP leader further claimed that the state’s public healthcare system had weakened in recent years. She alleged that annual admissions in government medical colleges dropped from around 13 lakh in 2021 to approximately 7.5 lakh, while the number of major surgeries performed in government hospitals declined from 1.10 lakh per year to about 89,000. She suggested that the alleged corporate expansion into Kerala’s healthcare sector was linked to this decline.

Shobha Surendran also questioned the healthcare choices of CPI(M) leaders, alleging that many prefer treatment outside Kerala or abroad rather than relying on the state’s public health system.

Citing official figures, she said that between 2016 and 2023, the Union government had allocated ₹5,556 crore to Kerala under the National Health Mission, including over ₹230 crore for Alappuzha district alone, aimed at strengthening infrastructure and human resources. Despite this, she alleged, the public healthcare sector has suffered setbacks.

She criticised Health Minister Veena George, stating that accountability lies not only with the minister but also with the Chief Minister. She also alleged that ongoing protests by doctors in government hospitals have disrupted major surgeries and outpatient services, adversely affecting poor patients.

The CPI(M) and the state government have not yet responded to the allegations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman