Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Updated

Udupi, Nov 19: In a big boost to healthcare in Udupi, chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday November 19 NRI entrepreneur Dr B R Shetty's state-of-the-art Koosumma Shambhu Shetty Memorial Haji Abdulla Mother and Child Hospital in a programme held at Government First Grade College campus.

Addressing the gathering, Siddaramaiah said, "I had come for the foundation laying ceremony of this hospital. Dr B R Shetty had then promised that within one year the project would be completed, and he has fulfilled his promise. Some of the interior works are incomplete, but they will be done by January 15, 2018.

"There are two kinds of people opposing this project - one, those who have no information, and two, those who have all the information but still oppose due to some hidden motive. B R Shetty does not need this hospital as a source of income. He has built this to serve the people of his hometown.

"The hospital was 70-bedded and now it will be upgraded to 200 beds. It will remain as a government hospital, and not B R Shetty's. Patients will get cent percent free treatment and quality service will be provided," the CM said.

Speaking about the KPME Bill over which doctors in the state had gone on strike, he said, "We are not trying to control anyone, but only want the needy to get the best medical facilities. We have seven rights to freedom, but none of them is absolute, but subject to reasonable restriction. If we are able to run this hospital on public-private partnership (PPP) model, it will inspire others also to emulate the same. We are not doing this to make money.

"A super-specialty hospital will be built next to this hospital. The money generated from that will be used to provide free treatment here. But even there, BPL card holders will be given free treatment. There is no scope for any doubt," he added.

Indira Canteens

Siddaramaiah also symbolically launched Indira Canteens in Udupi to mark the 100th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

In his address, the CM said, "Indira Gandhi was pro-poor. She charted the 20 point programme and worked under the slogan of 'garibi hatao'. She worked relentlessly for the welfare of the deprived.

"As many as 200 Indira Canteens in Bengaluru will be set up by December end, and another 300 will be established from January. A total of 500 Indira Canteens will come up in Bengaluru alone, so that a population of one lac population has at least one such canteen.

"Our motto is that Karnataka should become a hunger-free state, but BJP is talking of making Karnataka Congress-free. BJP should be ashamed of saying such things. It will never happen. It is impossible. The poor, women, workers are all in our support. Parivartana Yatra has done nothing for the BJP. Was it done to bring in change in power? Change should come in those who incite one person to fight against another. Those who incite communal tension should change first. Congress believes in providing good healthcare, education and basic amenities," he said.

The CM also declared Udupi as open defecation-free district. "By October 2, 2018, the entire state will be open defecation-free," he said.

In his address, health minister Ramesh Kumar said, "Satya Sai Seva Trust of Andhra Pradesh was my inspiration in giving approval to this project. When I saw free treatment being given there, I thought why not do the same here. We have provided land to this project, and the hospital will remain government's. If there is more doubt in this regard, then god help those people. The DC will monitor the hospital through a committee. If there is any violation of the MoU, the government has the right to take it back."

In a veiled dig at the opposition, he said, "Some people have such a negative attitude that they do not want government hospitals to improve. They want it to remain in the same deteriorated condition. The opposition takes advantage of this and says it is the failure of the government. We have taken up this project for the welfare of the poor. We are also humans with feelings.

"When Siddaramaiah became the CM he announced 'Anna Bhagya', but some people said called it publicity stunt. Opposition leaders are not helping the poor but are supporting those who looted the country and escaped," he said.

Regarding doctors' strike over KPME Bill, he said, "The doctors expressed their pain, but who will speak for the families who lost their loved ones because of unavailability of treatment? The KPME Bill is for the poor, and not against doctors."

He also said that on January 15 once the hospital is fully ready, he wil come again for the formal inauguration.

Dr B R Shetty in his address said, "I will do everything possible to serve Udupi and the state. I will give priority to Karnataka over other Indian states. I am doing this so that people here get quality healthcare."

District in charge Minister Pramod Madhwaraj welcomed the gathering.

K J George, urban development minister, Bengaluru, U T Khadar, food and civil supplies minister, Vinay Kumar Sorake, MLA, Kaup constituency, K Gopal Poojary, MLA, Byndoor constituency, Narasimha Moorthy, president, Urban development authority, Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje, president, CMC, Dr C R Shetty, Vice president, BRS NMC health and research institution, Bengaluru, B S Shetty, Advisory, NMC health and research institution, Bengaluru, Priyanka Mary Francis, Deputy Commissioner and others were present.

Addressing reporters at the Circuit House prior to the event, the CM said that the proposed amendments to Karnataka Medical Private Establishments (KPME) Act were chalked out not to restrict doctors but to help the poor. The proposed amendments to the KPME Act drew widespread protests from doctors across the state, till finally the government agreed to their demands to modify the Bill before tabling it in the Assembly.

The CM will also lay the foundation stone for a hospital being built by G Shankar Family Trust.

Speaking to reporters at the Circuit House here, Siddaramaiah said, "Our intention was not to harass or restrict the private doctors, but to help the poor by making private healthcare accessible to them."

Asked who won between the doctors and the government after the talks, he said, "Neither, it is the poor patients who ultimately won."

To a question on the alleged privatisation of the Udupi government hospital for mother and child care, he said, "It is not privatisation. The hospital will still be government's, they will only run the administration."

To another related query, he said, "We are not inaugurating this hospital in a hurry. We are doing it because we can. People seemed to have misunderstood."

Asked to respond to reports about the state moving towards liquor ban, the CM said, "There is no such proposal before the government."

On reports about the deteriorating quality of food in Indira Canteens, he said, "It is totally not correct. We are providing good food in all the Indira Canteens."

He refused to comment on the upcoming Lingayat convention in December, saying it had no connection with the state government had nothing to do with it.

Asked why he has never visited Sri Krishna Math as chief minister, Siddaramaiah said, "I had been to Sri Krishna Math once. After that I was never invited and I never went. I have good relations with the six crore people of Karnataka. If BJP used this issue in their Parivartana rally, then it will be to their disadvantage, and our advantage.

Dr B R Shetty, health minister Ramesh Kumar, minister K J George, Udupi district in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj, MLC Ivan D'Souza, MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake and others were present.