UP not the easiest place to run a hospital: Rahul

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over the health care system in Uttar Pradesh, claiming that "running a hospital in the state was more difficult than any other part of the country."

"Uttar Pradesh is not the easiest place to run a hospital, and operating a hospital here is more difficult than in most other parts of the country," Rahul said.

Addressing a function organised at the Kamla Nehru Memorial hospital, the Congress leader said, "I feel proud to see such a hospital functioning in Allahabad. I have been aware of the difficulties you must have faced in bringing the hospital to its current shape."

"I am aware that while running a hospital here, you must have faced many difficulties which you might not have faced in many other states in the country," said Rahul.

Kamla Nehru Hospital, named after Gandhi's great grandmother, was set up in 1941. It is widely regarded as the country's premier maternity and child healthcare centre.

The hospital also specialises in the treatment of paediatric cancer. On this occasion, Rahul also inaugurated a special paediatric cancer ward named after his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

He said it was a "matter of pride to have a charitable hospital dedicated to fighting dreaded diseases like cancer free of cost."

"Cancer is a very difficult disease to deal with but for the poor, it is a death sentence," he said.

The Congress general secretary was accompanied by Minister of Corporate Affairs Murli Deora. Rahul is on the board of trustees of the hospital, while Deora is the honorary secretary and treasurer.