Lucknow, 29 Aug (HS): Akhilesh Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Party,

slammed the Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday over the state of healthcare,

citing a scarcity of doctors and paramedics and offering free treatment and

drugs to impoverished people if his party comes to power. Addressing a news

conference at the Samajwadi Party headquarters, Yadav stated that there was one

doctor for every 16,000 people in Uttar Pradesh and that 41% of government

hospital positions were vacant. More than 24,000 nurse and paramedical service

positions are vacant, according to the former chief minister, including 604 at

AIIMS Gorakhpur and 579 at AIIMS Rae Bareli. He further claimed that the number

of basic health care facilities had decreased in various areas, including

Gorakhpur, the home district of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

When the Chief Minister reduces the number of health centers in his own

area, imagine what the scenario would be elsewhere, he stated. Yadav claimed

that people were compelled to spend a lot of money on treatment and

medications, while the number of private hospitals and nursing homes was growing

across the state. He also alleged that cases of malpractice in hospitals had

increased.

Yadav stated that the future Samajwadi Party administration would provide

free care and medications to the underprivileged without having them to provide

a card. When the Samajwadi government is constituted, no card would be

required. The patient will arrive, and his therapy and medications will be

free, he stated. He stated that the idea would address both ordinary and major

ailments, including cancer, and would be included in the party's manifesto.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi