Protest against Karnataka government’s move to privatise district hospitals

People against the move

Members of various organisations distributed pamphlets to create awareness against the state government’s move and to shore up public opinion against assigning private players to operate the hospitals.

“The members of the public who had come here and even people of Davangere district are against this move. We must work towards providing better services,” Jabeena Khanum, a member of the Beedi Karmikara Union, said.

She even alleged that healthcare under BJP government has already become too expensive for the poor. “This move will only make healthcare services inaccessible to them,” she said.

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Protests to continue

The members also warned that if the state government did not change its stance the protests will spread to other districts.

Vijaya Kumar Seethappa, a member of Karnataka Janaarogya Chaluvali (state unit of India’s People’s Health Movement) said, “This protest has started in one district now. If the government doesn’t drop the move, it will spread to all districts. This move should stop immediately and only then will the public trust this government,” he added.

Meanwhile, the protesting organisations also submitted a letter to the chief minister through the chief surgeon of the district hospital, requesting him to withdraw the decision