The Madhya Pradesh government has completely abandoned its initial decision to transfer state medical colleges into private hands under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Ultimately, the government issued an official statement clarifying that the management of no state medical college will be handed over to private companies.
The situation was highlighted in the popular evening show 'Khabardar' on the 'Aajtak' channel on September 21. This report revealed the intention of the Madhya Pradesh government to transfer nine of its state medical institutions in a PPP format. 'Aajtak' presented the results of its field journalism to the public, showing widespread disagreement from deans, doctors, professors, and students of the medical colleges.
The main concern of students and doctors was that if state medical institutions were transferred to private hands, it would lead to increased treatment costs, as free or low-cost medical services for poor and ordinary patients might cease. Furthermore, the cost of medical education would sharply rise, depriving talented and low-income students of the opportunity to become doctors.
The 'Aajtak' report triggered a wave of protests against this policy across the state, forcing the government, which faced criticism, to change its decision. Late on September 24, the state government published an official clarification stating that 'medical colleges built by state administration or under construction with state funds will be managed and maintained by the state administration itself. These medical colleges will not be transferred for management via the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) method.'
This new decree brought relief among medical students, doctors, and the general public of Madhya Pradesh. The campaign conducted by 'Aajtak' not only saved the existence of state medical colleges but also ensured the right of poor patients to affordable treatment and the right of students to affordable education.