TDP Govt leases out Govt hospital to favour corporate biggie

Chittoor: A government hospital from Chief Minister's home district is all set to double up as the teaching hospital for corporate health organisation Apollo Hospitals.

The Chittoor Government College will undergo 'clinical attachment' and become the teaching hospital for Apollo group, which is planning to set up a medical college. The medical college has already been given permission.

Normally, to set up a medical college, the management is expected to run the hospital for three years. To circumvent this provision, the State Government has allowed the clinical attachment to enable Apollo to start a new college.

The hospital has been given on lease for three years. A five-member team has been constituted for the purpose. The committee has NTR Health University vice-chancellor, Vaidya Vidhana Parishad chief, Chittoor Government hospital superintendent as members.

This is the first time that a government hospital has been leased out to a private organisation in Andhra Pradesh.