Government Will Resist Exploitation by Foreign Monopolies in Healthcare at All Costs: Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan

Kochi : Kerala will collectively resist the exploitation of the healthcare sector by large corporate entities, Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan said. He was speaking after inaugurating the Golden Jubilee Block of Indira Gandhi Co-operative Hospital, Kadavanthra, Kochi, and the Janakeeya Arogya Suraksha Scheme, organised as part of the hospital’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The Chief Minister said the government was committed to protecting government and co-operative hospitals at any cost. He pointed out that multinational corporations were investing huge amounts to acquire leading hospitals, diagnostic centres and pharmaceutical businesses in Kerala and other parts of India, subsequently reselling them at significantly higher prices to generate enormous profits. He called for urgent government intervention and regulatory measures to curb such practices. He also emphasised that the government would expand its direct involvement in the diagnostic and pharmaceutical sectors, along with co-operative hospitals such as Indira Gandhi Co-operative Hospital, to ensure that affordable healthcare services remain accessible to ordinary people.

The Chief Minister honoured B. Bindumadhav, Chairman of Bhima Jewels, for his significant contributions to the healthcare sector with the objective of providing quality treatment to the underprivileged. He also felicitated K. V. Joseph, the contractor who completed the construction of the Golden Jubilee Block in record time.

The function was presided over by M. O. John, President of the Cochin Co-operative Hospitals Society. Society Secretary Ajay Tharayil, Vice President Adv. B. A. Abdul Muthalib, Hibi Eden MP, Kochi Corporation Mayor Adv. V. K. Minimol, MLAs T. J. Vinod, Muhammed Shiyas and Uma Thomas, former MLA Dominic Presentation, Society Directors Augustus Cyril, T. H. Rasheed, Alappatt Muraleedharan, Dr. Haseena Mohammed, Iqbal Valiyaveettil, Indira Bhai Prasad, N. A. Abraham, P. D. Ashokan and K. P. Vijayakumar, along with Medical Superintendent Dr. S. Sachidananda Kamath, addressed the gathering.