Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Aug 11: Over 500 members of Pragati Bandhu Self Help Groups (SHG) laid siege to a private hospital here on Tuesday August 10. They were protesting against the medical officers of the hospital, who they said, use to harass the patients by giving wrong information, although the hospital does not have the cashless treatment facility under Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP).

The health insurance scheme, ‘Sampoorna Suraksha’ that was initiated by SKDRDP to cover the health of the members of the self help groups functioning under it, is served through 145 hospitals spread over nine districts. Initially, the hospital in question had been included under the scheme. However, as the beneficiaries failed to get proper service there, it was deleted from the list of eligible hospitals later.

The protestors alleged that the doctors at the hospital used to hoodwink the SHG members by promising them to provide facilities under the scheme, and then inciting them to file cases against SKDRDP. After several such incidents occurred, the affected people decided to unitedly fight the hospital’s covert ways. On Tuesday, they mobbed the hospital and demanded compensation. After their request was refused, they raised slogans against the doctors and public relations officer of the hospital.

Puttur assistant superintendent of police, Amit Singh, visited the scene and held talks with the protestors. Later, a meeting of the hospital doctors, municipal councillor, Nellikatte Jagadish Shetty, SKDRDP representative, Malini, and some other leaders was held at the local police station. After the doctors promised in writing that they will henceforth not allow such incidents to recur, the protestors dispersed.