Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday promised that his government would provide free medical treatment of serious ailments to poor.

The chief minister who flagged off an awareness rally on the World Kidney Day here said that in the days to come, the state government would arrange the infrastructure for providing free treatment of serious ailments to the poor.

Yadav stressed that as the poor people cannot arrange finances, they are more affected in case of serious illness.

Recalling the works of the earlier SP-led government, he said that it took steps for providing better and free treatment for the poor which were discontinued by the previous government.

In this direction, some medical colleges were set up while others were still to come into being, Yadav said referring to the UP Rural Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Etawah in which he said that good treatment was being provided to not just the locals but also to those coming from far off places at Rs 35 only.

"Our party has often been criticised for setting up this institute", he said adding that his government would make efforts to provide good treatment at reasonable rates for serious ailments.

On the occasion, he also stressed on creating awareness about problems like those related to kidney so that people can take precautions.

The chief minister also lauded the SGPGIMS here and doctors for providing relief to patients.