TMC will hit streets against ‘unacceptable’ med price hike on April 4-5: CM
Times of India | 3 April 2025
123 Kolkata: Days before Bengal BJP netas hold Ram Navami rallies, CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday lambasted central govt, dubbing the medicine price hike from April 1 as "unacceptable". She announced that Trinamool would hit the streets in protest across the state on April 4-5.
"We sell generic medicine from fair price shops at discounted prices for a purpose so that health service is available to all. We cannot accept GST on health insurance. Even cancer drug prices went up. What will cancer patients do? We will start an agitation on the streets," she said.
Banerjee asked the public to join the protest. "I strongly condemn this. I request them (Centre) to withdraw this. I am the chairperson of AITC as well. We will not conduct any programmes on April 6 as it is Ram Navami, and we want festivities to be held peacefully. However, to protest against Centre's move, rallies and demonstrations will be conducted in every ward and block of the state on April 4 and 5, between 4pm and 5pm. Common people should also organise protests in clubs, NGOs and institutions as they may face problems if their loved ones fall ill due to Centre's one-sided and autocratic decision," the CM said.
"I have a responsibility as health minister, I have written to the PM for withdrawal of GST from health insurance... Govt must have a human face for poor patients… Let good sense prevail. We cannot accept a price hike in medicines and GST on mediclaim," said Banerjee.
"The economic parameters of society say that the poor should get basic rights at a fair price. The parameters are food, clothing, housing and health. Centre is denying the poor even basic health facilities... Why does Centre even exist, then? Is it just to divide people in the name of religious provocation, introduce a new religion that is not ours, not even Ramakrishna's? It is just to incite communal riots and divide the country," she said.
The CM pointed out that the cost of atorvastatin and clopidogrel, used to control cholesterol, had increased by 45.5%. Prices of other cholesterol medicine like atorvastatin and ezetimibe have increased by 115.8%. Blood pressure control drugs like bisoprolol and telmisartan are 19.2% more expensive now. The price of gastro medicines like pantoprazole and levosulpiride capsules increased by 19.3%, she added.
Banerjee questioned whether Centre was meant to be serving only a particular section of society. "From where will the common people avail medical services? People have to pay extra if doctors prescribe these drugs. For whom is it done? People who are not commoners? People who possess huge sums of money? Those who can afford high-cost treatment? Will govt only work for them? Or should they be for the poor or the middle-class?" she asked.
"After getting how much money will Centre stop ‘jumlabaazi'? They deliver speeches during elections, and they withdraw their remarks after polls end. Why will people pay GST on mediclaim? Why will people pay GST to buy a flat? Why is there no tax on diamonds but on jeera?" the CM said.
"We are not getting our share of GST. Centre is levying cess to deprive states," she added.