Coalition’s Liquor Conspiracy…false claims against YS Jagan’s policy exposed

As part of its diversionary politics, the coalition government is orchestrating a massive smear campaign against the liquor policy of the previous YSRCP government, misusing its authority to fabricate a non-existent scam through conspiracies. This includes setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct fake inquiries. To sensationalize the liquor scam allegations further, the coalition, along with yellow media and some English newspapers, is spreading false narratives, claiming that a report from the AP Public Health Department indicates an increase in liver and kidney problems among the 35-44 age group due to increased liquor consumption during YS Jagan’s five-year rule. Here are the facts:

1. YS Jagan’s government took steps to discourage liquor sales compared to Chandrababu’s era: The YS Jagan government implemented measures to curb liquor sales, such as running liquor shops under government supervision, reducing operating hours, and abolishing 43,000 illegal belt shops, innovative steps aimed at reducing alcohol consumption.
2. Significant reduction in liquor sales and consumption during 2019-24 compared to 2014-19:  Liquor sales and consumption dropped significantly during 2019-24 compared to the 2014-19 period. In 2018-19, the last year of Chandrababu’s rule, IML (Indian Made Liquor) sales were 3.84 crore cases, while by 2023-24, the last year of YS Jagan’s rule, they decreased to 3.32 crore cases. 

3. Beer sales dropped significantly: In 2018-19, beer sales were 2.77 crore cases, but by 2023-24, they plummeted to 1.12 crore cases. If liquor sales and consumption decreased so significantly under YS Jagan compared to Chandrababu’s time, how can the TDP claim that increased liquor consumption caused a rise in liver and kidney diseases?

Liquor sales data tables (2014-2019 and 2019-2024):  table 1

Table 2: Liquor sales during 2019-2024 (YSRCP Government)

4. Strengthening of healthcare under YS Jagan’s rule (2019-24):

During 2019-24, YS Jagan’s government strengthened the healthcare sector through initiatives like Aarogyasri, Aarogya Suraksha camps, the Family Doctor program, Village/Ward Clinics, PHCs, and the establishment of new medical colleges. This made healthcare more accessible, leading to a record number of medical tests and treatments during those five years. Naturally, the number of reported cases increased due to better access, but the coalition government is deliberately misinterpreting this to create a false narrative, ignoring the government’s efforts to provide better healthcare services.

5. Post-COVID mental health issues contributed to increased alcohol use: 

The rise in mental health issues post-COVID, such as isolation, stress, and social challenges, contributed to increased alcohol consumption. This was a global phenomenon, not unique to YS Jagan’s rule.

6. No scientific evidence links reported health issues solely to liquor consumption:  There is no scientific evidence or specific study proving that the reported health issues were solely caused by liquor consumption. For example, if someone has fatty liver disease, it cannot be attributed solely to alcohol; other lifestyle factors could also be responsible.

7. Liquor quality depends on distilleries, not YS Jagan’s government: 

Liquor quality is determined by distilleries, but YS Jagan did not grant permission for even a single new distillery in the state. Most distilleries were established during Chandrababu’s tenure.

8. Chandrababu introduced 200 new liquor brands during 2014-19: 

During 2014-19, Chandrababu introduced nearly 200 new liquor brands, unheard of earlier, such as President Medal, Governor’s Reserve, Power Star, Legend, LeFair Napoleon, Okton Barrel Aged, Seventh Heaven Blue, High Voltage, Voltage Gold, SNG 10000, British Empire Super Strong Premium Beer, British Empire Ultra, Royal Palace, New King, Sign Out, Beera 91, TI Mansion House, and TI Courier Napoleon. YS Jagan, on the other hand, continued the existing brands without introducing new ones.

9. SJS lab reports confirmed quality of liquor under YS Jagan’s rule: 

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) further declared the liquor policy was in complainace with provisions of competition Act, 2002. Notably, no deaths due to illicit liquor were reported during YS Jagan’s tenure (2019-24). Their Rs. 99 cheap liquor now drives up liver and kidney cases, while they neglect public health, weakening Aarogyasri, unlike YS Jagan’s strengthening efforts.

10. Neglect of public health by Chandrababu’s govt’s (past and present): 

Both the past Chandrababu government (2014-19) and the current coalition government under his leadership have completely neglected public health. They sidelined the government healthcare sector and weakened the YSR Aarogyasri scheme, leading to a rise in serious health issues in the state.

11. Low-quality liquor under coalition rule: 

The coalition government is now supplying cheap liquor at Rs. 99, which has led to a significant increase in liver and kidney disease cases.

12. YS Jagan’s healthcare initiatives helped the poor access treatment: 

Poor people, who were previously unable to afford private hospital tests and treatments due to poverty, received assurance under YS Jagan’s government. Through programs like Aarogyasri, Aarogya Suraksha, village clinics, and the Family Doctor initiative, large numbers of people accessed medical camps for tests and treatments. YS Jagan’s government implemented these programs scientifically, leading to a natural and unprecedented increase in the number of reported patients and treatments, a revolutionary achievement in healthcare. However, attributing this increase to liquor consumption and claiming that low-quality liquor under YS Jagan caused a rise in liver diseases is malicious propaganda.

13. YS Jagan’s Golden Era in healthcare:

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy wrote a golden chapter in healthcare during the YSRCP’s five-year rule. The government established 17 new medical colleges, starting classes in 5 of them. To ensure everyone’s health, YS Jagan introduced the Jagananna Aarogya Suraksha program, providing free medical services and medicines through specialist doctors at village-level Suraksha camps, with free hospital treatments under Aarogyasri for those needing further care.

• Aarogya Suraksha phase 1 achievements: 

In the first phase of Aarogya Suraksha, free medical services were provided to 60,27,843 people. Medical staff visited 1.45 crore households for screening, conducted 6.45 crore medical tests, referred patients to Aarogyasri network hospitals for further treatment, and provided free care. The government also offered Rs. 500 for travel expenses to access hospital services. In the second phase, launched in January 2024, over 10,881 camps were held by March.

14. Expansion of Aarogyasri services:

The YSRCP government increased Aarogyasri procedures from 1,059 to 3,257 and expanded free Aarogyasri services from 820 hospitals to 2,543. They provided free treatment up to Rs. 25 lakh under Aarogyasri, benefiting over 53 lakh people in five years. Additionally, Aarogya Asara support of Rs. 5,000 per person was given, benefiting 25,27,870 people with Rs. 1,310 crore.

15. Massive recruitment in healthcare: 

YS Jagan’s government transformed the situation where government hospitals previously lacked doctors and nurses. They recruited 53,126 healthcare staff, a scale never seen before. Despite a national shortage of specialist doctors at 61%, AP reduced this shortage to just 3.96% under YS Jagan. Nationally, there’s a 27% shortage of nurses, but in AP, this shortage was reduced to zero. The national shortage of lab technicians is 33%, but in AP, it was also brought to zero.

16. Enhanced Aarogyasri Coverage for Critical Illnesses:

Previously, under Aarogyasri, treatments for severe diseases like cancer were capped at Rs. 5 lakh. Jagan’s government changed this, ensuring unlimited coverage for cancer treatment and introducing expensive procedures like cochlear implantation for both ears (Rs. 12 lakh), bone marrow transplantation (Rs. 11 lakh), and heart transplants (Rs. 11 lakh) under Aarogyasri. Around 1,82,732 people benefited from such high-cost procedures for critical illnesses, with Rs. 1,900 crore spent on cancer treatment alone. Over five years, Rs. 14,439 crore was spent on improving Aarogyasri services.

17. Modern medical equipment and infrastructure: 

The government supplied modern equipment worth thousands of crores, including computers and IT equipment worth Rs. 1,685.95 crore to hospitals, medical equipment worth Rs. 218.16 crore to village clinics, PHCs, and UPHCs, and diagnostic equipment worth Rs. 131.27 crore to PHCs, CHCs, and district hospitals. Advanced services like CT, MRI, and cath labs were introduced at KGH, Kurnool, and Kakinada GGH with Rs. 46.11 crore. Cancer care was strengthened with Rs. 190 crore worth of equipment at KGH, Kurnool, and Kadapa hospitals. ICUs at APVVP hospitals were upgraded with Rs. 193.50 crore.

18. Nadu-Nedu program for hospitals (Rs. 16,880 Cr):

Fulfilling its promise, YS Jagan’s government transformed hospitals under the Nadu-Nedu program, spending Rs. 16,880 crore. They renovated dilapidated hospitals, constructed new ones, built 17 new medical colleges, and developed super-specialty hospitals. As a result, 640 hospitals received National Quality Assurance (NQA) certification, 42 hospitals got Muskaan certification, and 3,161 hospitals received Kayakalp recognition in 2022-23, making AP the top state in the country, surpassing even Kerala.

19. Additional healthcare measures under YS Jagan’s government: 

• Medicine availability: Under Chandrababu, only 292 types of medicines were available for name’s sake. YS Jagan’s government increased this to 562 types, ensuring availability. 
• Village health clinics: YS Jagan introduced 10,032 village health clinics near secretariats, a historic move for preventive care. 
• Healthcare staff at village level: Each village had a CHO, an ANM, and 3-4 ASHA workers, with 24/7 availability of CHOs and ANMs, distributing 105 types of medicines. 
• Family Doctor System: YS Jagan introduced the Family Doctor system, ensuring two PHCs per mandal with two 104 vehicles each, four doctors per mandal (two at PHCs and two visiting villages), and doctors visiting each village twice a month. 
• Ambulance services: Under Chandrababu, there were only 336 – 108 ambulances and 292 – 104 ambulances, totaling 622, many of which didn’t function properly. YS Jagan’s government increased this to 768- 108 ambulances, 936 – 104 ambulances, totaling 1,704, plus 500 mother-and-child ambulances, making it 2,204 vehicles serving the poor effectively.

• Services under Jagananna Aarogya Suraksha: 
• Camps conducted: 12,423 
• Total OPs: 60,27,843 
• Medical tests conducted: 6,45,06,018 
• Referrals for advanced treatment: 1,66,828 
• Treatments completed under general referrals: 86,053 
• Cataract treatments completed under referrals: 80,115 
• Eye screening: 9,52,066 (glasses distributed to 5.73 lakh people) 
• Newly identified BP cases: 2,51,529 
• Newly identified diabetes cases: 1,54,248 
• Services under Jagananna Aarogya Suraksha – Phase 2: 
• Suraksha camps conducted: 10,881 
• OPs: 38,58,410 
• Tests conducted: 88,83,316 
• Referrals for advanced treatment: 17,558 
• Treatments completed under referrals: 8,699 
• Identified for glasses: 2,09,319 
• Glasses distributed: 1,70,594 

• Services under the Family Doctor program: 

• 14 Types of Medical Tests Conducted at the Village Level: 
• Urine test for pregnancy confirmation, hemoglobin test, sugar test 
• Malaria test, HIV diagnosis, dengue test, multipara urine strips (dipstick) 
• Iodine test, water testing, hepatitis B diagnosis 
• Filariasis test, syphilis rapid test, visual inspection, sputum (AFB) 

20. No deaths have been registered during 2019-24 due to illicit liquor.