The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
Denounce Malicious Attacks on Kerala’s Public Health System
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) condemns the malicious attacks on Kerala’s public health system. It denounces the physical attack on Veena George, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, carried out by the KSU goons. These attacks reflect the frustration of the Congress and all other anti-Left forces that are unable to counter the achievements of the LDF Government, which is successfully completing ten consecutive years in office.
The achievements of the LDF government in public health have won admiration and recogonition from all over the world. Even the BJP-led union government that never loses an opportunity to criticise the LDF, was forced to recognise this fact and award Kerala for three consecutive years for providing the highest volume of free treatment in the country. The Regional Cancer Centre in Thiruvananthapuram received a UN award for its special initiatives against non-communicable diseases. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in Kerala has been brought down to 5, which is much better than the US (5.6), which has a higher per capita income. All these clearly show how seriously and responsibly the LDF government has approached Kerala’s public health sector.
These achievements were possible despite the severe financial constraints imposed by the BJP-led union government. The total expenditure for health by the UDF government (2011-16) was Rs. 18,825.44 crore. Under the LDF government, it doubled to Rs. 36,651.79 crore (2016-21). In the past four years (2021-25), it has further spent Rs. 41,510.43 crore. These higher expenditures demonstrate the commitment of the LDF government towards public health.
Both the Congress and the BJP are unable to digest these achievements of the LDF in public health as their policy is to promote private players in all sectors, including health. The failure of the private sector to penetrate deeply into Kerala, despite their big investments in the state, is largely due to the presence of a strong public sector. The attacks on Kerala’s public health system is precisely to enable the expansion of the private sector, by painting it in a bad light.
The CPI(M) denounces these attacks, urges the people to see through these nefarious designs and stand in defence of the public health system in Kerala and the LDF government.