DEHRADUN: Students, faculty, and staff of the government medical college in Dehradun are up in arms against the Dhami government's plan to privatize the institution in PPP Mode.

The United Doctors Front (UDF), a nationwide body of medical professionals, has thrown its weight behind the protests. Dr. Lakshay Mittal, UDF's president, has written to the National Medical Commission (NMC) opposing the move. The Pushkar Singh Dhami government, however, remains silent.

The proposal involves handing over the government medical college to Sharda University, Noida. The college, known for offering MBBS programs, would operate under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Officials claim the degrees will remain government-certified and fees won’t rise.
But no one is buying it.
Students fear a fee hike is inevitable once private management takes over. Faculty worry about job security. Protestors point to other privatized sectors where promises of affordability crumbled.
The college is in Haridwar, a city with religious and international significance. Locals believe privatizing such a critical public institution is a betrayal.
Strikes have erupted. Medical students are on an indefinite boycott of classes. The UDF has warned of intensified protests.
Opposition to this plan echoes past struggles.

In 2001, then-CM Trivendra Singh Rawat faced massive protests over plans to privatize Haldwani Medical College. Public outrage forced the government to backtrack.
The current BJP government is walking a similar path. Protesters say this move will hit not just students but the general public. Affordable healthcare will be the biggest casualty.

Critics are also questioning the timing. PM Modi had inaugurated the medical college in 2021. Within four years, the state is preparing to hand it over to private hands.

Questions are mounting. Why privatize now? Why silence from the government? What’s the real motive?