CPM protests tie-up of four govt hospitals with private colleges in DK

Mangaluru: Demanding the withdrawal of the health department’s order to hand over four govt hospitals in Dakshina Kannada to private medical colleges, the CPM Dakshina Kannada district committee held a protest meeting in front of Mini Vidhana Soudha Thursday.

The party also took out a protest march from Dr BR Ambedkar Circle to Mini Vidhana Soudha. The protest meeting was chaired by CPM state secretary board member K Yadava Shetty.

Speaking after inaugurating the meeting, CPM district secretary Muneer Katipalla alleged that Dakshina Kannada has fallen into the clutches of private hospitals and medical college owners. He criticised political leaders and parties for portraying Mangaluru as a healthcare hub while ordinary people continue to struggle with rising medical expenses at private hospitals.

He said that handing over govt hospitals to “profit seeking private health institutions” would be a complete denial of the right to health for the poor and would open the door for full-scale privatisation of public health services.

Calling the move an “extremely reactionary decision”, Katipalla warned that if the decision is not withdrawn, the movement will spread across the district and that district minister Dinesh Gundu Rao will be waylaid and black flags will be displayed.

Meanwhile, CPM district committee member Sunil Kumar Bajal termed the move “unacceptable.” He questioned the BJP’s silence on the issue and accused the saffron party of being involved in the alleged agreement.

Stating that the CPM will not rest until the order is revoked, Bajal also claimed that both the BJP and Congress work jointly on behalf of owners of private institutions and said the party would expose it.