Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (RS/SB)
 
Mangalore, Nov 3: Opposing the move to commercialize Wenlock and Ladygoschen hospitals by levying fees on patients, a total of 18 organizations under the leadership of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) protested and staged a dharna in front of the deputy commissioner’s office here on Monday November 2.
 
The protestors demanded maintain healthcare facilities in both the government hospitals affordable to patients from economically backward sections, terming that the charging of fees for medicine and services is undemocratic and against the people’s right to obtain government healthcare facilities.
 

Addressing the protestors, Muneer Katipalla, district president, DYFI said that the people from poor background are dependent on the government hospitals. The medical facilities at these hospitals are affordable to the poor despite several shortage as far as facilities are concerned. In the guise of bringing about improvement in services,  the government is moving towards commercialization on the model of private hospitals, he said adding that the government that every patient should be charged with fees has come as a shocker to the economically poor class.

B Madhava, secretary of state construction and allied workers association said that the government’s decision to commercialize the government hospital that has history of 150 years in providing service to the poor has literally thrown the poor patients to the streets. The economically poor people in and around the district are dependent on the hospital for their basic healthcare needs, which may be unavailable to them if the move of commercialization comes into effect.
 
The leaders and members from Janawadi Mahila Sangh (JMS), Centre for Indian Trade Union (CITU), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Dali  Sangharsha Samiti (DSS), Ahinda, Bank Employees’ Federation of India and Samudaya amongs others participated in the protest.