Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Oct 28:"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should postpone the foundation laying ceremony for the proposed project of development of district maternity and children hospital by BRS Healthcare, which is scheduled on Sunday, October 30," said former MLA, Raghupati Bhat, at the press meet on Friday, October 28.
Speaking at the Udupi press club, Bhat said, "The state government ought to have called a global tender for this project, but they did not. The government bypassed rules, which are mentioned in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP). A private limited company cannot do charity work according to the law. As BRS health care is a private limited company, how it could run this project?" Bhat condemning the proposal said.
"It is an entirely commercial venture and is held with the purpose of gaining profits. There is no need for participation of private sector to develop a government hospital. The hospital is not restricted to any constituency but it is a district level hospital. They could have discussed the matter with local MLAs, MPs and MLCs about the privatisation of the government hospital," Bhat added.
"Nearly Rs 5 crore funds were released for the renovation of the district hospital, during the time of BJP in the State. If the government released more funds, there could have been some more developments. Now, everything is pre-planned, and legal issues are decided at the cabinet level with the CM, but district-in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj apparently is not aware of it." Bhat said.
"The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) letter was also released at the last minute by the district-in-charge minister. There is no local representation in the monitory committee formed by BRS. The entire development of privatisation is like a gamble, and it portrays government as being in a bad situation." Bhat opined.
"I will not object if BRS Healthcare supports to rebuild the older children and women's hospital or BRS Healthcare helps increase the number of doctors at service there. But as per the MoU, the total control of the hospital administration would be under BRS health care." Bhat explained.
"If minister Pramod does not have any awareness about these dealings, he is undeserving. The BJP urges the postponement of the foundation laying ceremony, failing which, the district BJP will hold a massive protest.” Bhat concluded.
Prabhakar Poojary, Jagadeesh, Upendra Naik and Yashpal Suvarna were present at the meet.