Manipal Hospitals, Temasek Holdings Set to Take Control of AP Medical Colleges?!
The decision to hand over government medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh to private companies under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model has created a major political uproar in the state. The government has decided to hand over a total of ten colleges to private companies under this model. In the first phase, four colleges will be handed over, and the Andhra Pradesh Medical Services, Infrastructure Development Corporation (APMSIDC) recently issued a tender notification for this. These colleges will be handed over under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model. The colleges in the first phase include Adoni, Markapur, Madanapalle, and Pulivendula. It is proposed to build hospitals with 625 beds at these colleges. The government plans to complete all ten colleges in two phases under the PPP model. The second phase will include colleges in Penukonda, Palacole, Amalapuram, Narsipatnam, Bapatla, and Parvathipuram. The colleges allocated in the first phase will reportedly be leased for 33 years.
However, according to highly reliable sources, it is being said by official circles that Manipal Hospitals is in the race to acquire these hospitals. Currently, the majority stake in these hospitals belongs to Temasek Holdings, a Singapore government-owned company. At one point, this stake reached 59%, but news reports indicate that Temasek sold a portion of its stake to other parties. Even now, Manipal Hospitals remains the largest shareholder, with Temasek Holdings being the principal shareholder. It is well known that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has strong ties with Singaporean companies. In this context, after the decision to hand over the construction responsibilities of medical colleges and hospitals in Andhra Pradesh under the PPP model, this company is now reportedly entering the race, according to official sources.
It is now becoming crucial to know how many of the ten colleges under the PPP model will go to this company. Officials are saying that no matter what the Andhra Pradesh government does, everything seems prearranged and follows a set plan, with each decision progressing in the same direction. Now, the same is happening with the medical colleges. Along with Manipal Hospitals, other companies that will participate in this race will be watched closely. As officials are saying, if Manipal Hospitals, which holds a majority stake through Temasek Holdings, acquires more colleges, the real story will be revealed, commented one officer.
