Mangalore, Jul 22: Protesting against the privatisation of government hospitals in the district, members of the Koraga community held a demonstration as part of a state-wide campaign in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here on Monday.
Under the banner of Koraga Abhivruddhi Sanghagala Okkoota, Karnataka-Kerala, the Koragas have placed several demands in front of the state government with regard to lack of doctors and medicines at the district government hospital, taluk government hospitals and community health centres in the district.
The community has demanded government to take steps to ensure availability of doctors during emergencies. They also demanded that all vacant posts including back-log vacancies be filled as early as possible, towards the overall strengthening of public health services.
The community demanded that a complaint disposal unit managed by the government be instituted to address complaints and grievances regarding the regular denial of health services, inconsistent treatment, medical examination and other grievances.
Alleging that inordinate amount of money was being collected for treatment, admission and other medical expenses of patients at government hospitals and health centres, the demonstrators demanded that no amount of money including user fees should be collected from the patients. Appropriate measures should be taken to ensure free treatment in health centres, they said.
During the demonstration, few Koragas members protested that the patients who went to the taluk hospitals and community health centres in places such as Puttur, Uppinangady and Vittla for treatment were ill-treated by the staff and meted with rude behaviour.
“Some charge as much as Rs 500 for admitting a patient even during an emergency. How are we poor people supposed to shell out that amount? The health and family welfare department should take steps to provide members of the community with free treatment,” said state convenor of the organisation K B Hoblesh.
Several others alleged downright rude behaviour as well as denial of treatment by the attending staff at taluk-level hospitals and health centres. Most complained about non-availability of doctors in health centres, even during the time of emergencies.
Another member of the community complained that there was no provision in the district government hospitals for the treatment of mentally-challenged persons.
District convenor of the organisation Susheela, Ashok Kumar and Shashikala from Samagra Grameena Ashram, an NGO, participated in the demonstration.
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