In Andhra Pradesh, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) has strongly condemned the state government’s plan to bring 10 medical colleges under a Public‑Private Partnership (PPP) model, asserting that it endangers affordable medical education and public control of institutions. According to SFI, transferring medical colleges to private or semi‑private entities, even under PPP, paves the way for commercialization of medical education, higher fees, and restricted access for students from poor and marginalized backgrounds.
The SFI criticism comes amid mounting controversy over the government’s broader PPP approach in health and education sectors, which has already drawn resistance from opposition parties, student groups, medical associations, and community organizations. SFI contends that medical colleges funded by public money must remain under full government control to preserve equity, transparency and social justice.
The government claims the PPP model will accelerate infrastructure development, bring efficiency, and relieve fiscal burden. It also insists it will maintain oversight, pricing controls, and essential free services. However, SFI remains unconvinced, demanding that the government abandon PPP plans and instead strengthen direct public investment in medical education. They called for public consultations, impact assessments, and guarantees that medical education remains accessible to all regardless of economic status.
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