APCC president YS Sharmila is holding a protest in Vijayawada on Wednesday. | Photo credit: KVS GIRI
Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president YS Sharmila on Wednesday staged a protest at Andhra Ratna Bhavan in Vijayawada, demanding the immediate release of ₹2,700 crore pending for the Aarogyasri health scheme.
Standing in the rain with a stretcher, Ms Sharmila said private hospitals had stopped services for the past 14 days due to unpaid fees, leaving thousands of patients stranded. She warned that if the government did not do the needful, she would go on an indefinite hunger strike.
The State Congress chief alleged that the TDP-led NDA government had turned Aarogyasri into ‘Anarogyasri’ and accused the government of neglecting the health of the poor. While former undivided chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy became the god of the poor by launching Aarogyasri, chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu became a demon when he stopped it. Call it NTR Health Scheme or Nara Health Services, but go ahead with the scheme and release the funds,” she said.
Ms. Sharmila said around 8,000 cases were registered under Aarogyasri in the state every day. But due to the suspension of services by empaneled hospitals, patients were being turned away. She alleged that the government was conspiring to scrap the health plan and warned that the Congress party would not remain silent.
Published – 22 Oct 2025 20:01 IST
