Jaya appeals PM to ask JIPMER to withdraw user charges

"It has been brought to my notice that JIPMER has introduced user charges for various medical investigations and procedures. This will badly affect poor patients not only from Puducherry but also from the neighbouring districts of our state, namely, Cuddalore, Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai, who have been availing health care services free of cost in this institution," she said in a letter to the Prime Minister.

Her missive comes a day after she announced AIADMK would stage a demonstration against the Centre and the Rangasamy led Puducherry government, opposing introduction of user charges.

The AIADMK supremo said her party had "vehemently" opposed a Bill to convert JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research) into an autonomous institution in Parliament, even at the introduction stage in 2008.

"Overruling our strident objections, the Bill had been passed with an assurance that the existing free services to the public would be continued without any change. Introduction of user charges for routine investigations and medical procedure amounts to reneging on the solemn assurance given in Parliament."

"So as to ensure that people of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are not adversely affected, I request you to instruct JIPMER to revisit the decision to introduce the new user charges and revert to the earlier practice of offering free services to the public as assured in 2008," she said in the letter to the PM.