Jana Sena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan is learnt to have paid for his recent shoulder surgery from his personal funds instead of availing himself of the government medical reimbursement facility available to ministers.
Pawan Kalyan recently underwent surgery on his right shoulder at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and has since been discharged.
He is expected to resume his official and party engagements after making a full recovery.
Sources said that although ministers are entitled to reimbursement of their medical treatment expenses by the state government, the Deputy Chief Minister chose not to use the facility and instead bore the entire cost himself.
The decision is said to be in line with his long-held belief that public money should not be used for personal needs when private resources are available.
Sources also recalled that he had similarly paid for an earlier nose surgery from his own earnings rather than seeking reimbursement from the government.
Analysts say that, irrespective of the political criticism Pawan Kalyan faces, his decision to bear his own medical expenses reflects his commitment to ethical public life and personal principles.
“Other public representatives should also minimise the use of public funds for private purposes wherever possible,” an analyst said.
