Harish Rao slams Congress for weakening Police Health Scheme

Senior BRS leader and former Health Minister T. Harish Rao accused the Congress government of systematically weakening the Telangana Police Health Scheme by restricting treatment to NIMS Hospital and delaying payments to private hospitals. He cited the death of Sub-Inspector Janardhan Rao, who was denied treatment under the police health card, as evidence of the scheme’s collapse.

Hyderabad: Senior BRS leader and former Health Minister T. Harish Rao said that the Congress government led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was systematically undermining the Telangana Police Health Scheme by restricting treatment to only NIMS Hospital and delaying pending bills to private hospitals. He stated that the government’s decision was extremely cruel and inhuman.

Harish Rao said the police personnel who risk their lives daily for public safety are being denied timely medical care in corporate hospitals despite monthly deductions from their salaries for the health scheme.

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“The state government deducts money every month from police salaries under the guise of Aarogya Bhadratha, yet shows blatant discrimination when it comes to providing services”.
He highlighted the tragic case of Armed Reserve Sub-Inspector Janardhan Rao, who suffered a massive heart attack in last October.

Despite being rushed to a leading private hospital within the crucial “golden hour,” the hospital reportedly refused treatment under the police health card, leading to his untimely death.

“Even as several policemen are losing their lives and families are facing immense hardship due to delayed or denied treatment, the rulers remain in deep slumber. This is deeply painful and utterly inhumane,” the former minister stated.

Harish Rao accused the Revanth Reddy administration of turning the once-effective health scheme into what he called a “lamp flickering in the wind” and betraying the very police force it relies on for law and order.

“The same government that uses thousands of policemen as shields during protests and arrests is now playing with their lives. This is nothing but duplicity,” he charged.

The BRS leader also reminded the Chief Minister of his pre-election promise to implement a “One Police” system for the state, alleging that the Congress government has “thrown that assurance into the dustbin.”

He cited recent instances where policemen protesting for their rights were arrested, suspended, and jailed, questioning whether this was the “Indiramma Rajyam” promised by the Congress.

Apart from healthcare, Harish Rao claimed that police personnel are also being denied legitimate dues such as surrender leave encashment, travel allowances, and station allowances, causing severe mental and financial distress.

“Why this vendetta against the police force, Revanth Reddy garu?” Harish Rao asked.

He urged the government to immediately release pending bills to private hospitals, restore full access to corporate healthcare under Arogya Bhadratha, and address all pending welfare issues of the police department.