People led by SUCI(C) members participating in a mega protest march in Dharwad on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Seeking steps to strengthen the government healthcare system by ensuring free and quality medical treatment in all government hospitals and healthcare centres and demanding a full stop to privatisation of the health sector, a mega protest march was organised in Dharwad on Thursday.
As a follow-up to the series of protest meetings and signature campaign carried out in this regard, hundreds of people led by office-bearers of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (C) took part in the mega protest march which began from Kadapa Maidan and concluded at the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad.
The protestors, including many women from various taluks of the district and various localities of Dharwad, took part in the agitation during which a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner.
Addressing the protestors, State committee member of SUCI(C) Ramanjanappa Aldalli said that the healthcare system of the State has been damaged severely resulting in poor quality medicine being administered to patients, including infants, leading to deaths in various districts.
Mr. Ramanjanappa said that in many hospitals the required number of expert doctors, medical and paramedical staff and basic infrastructure are not available and there is also severe shortage of medicine.
Although it has been found that only 30% of the required medicine are available in stores at government hospitals, steps have not been taken to redress the issue, he added.
He said that both the State and Union governments have been reducing allocation to the health sector and thereby, have weakened the public health system instead of strengthening it.
Stating that instead of addressing the public issues, the major political parties in the State, the BJP, the Congress and the Janata Dal(S), are engrossed in mudslinging and fighting for power, he appealed to the public to unite to fight for their rights against the ruling dispositions both at the State and the Centre.
District committee member Madhulata Goudar said that government hospitals in the district are facing several problems, including lack of adequate medicine and personnel.
And even medical tests conducted free earlier for BPL card holders are now being charged which is highly condemnable, she said.
District secretary Laxman Jadagannavar said that the protest is part of the State-wide agitation for improvement of the healthcare system and urged the district administration to address the issues immediately.
Receiving the memorandum, Deputy Commissioner Divya Prabhu G.R.J. assured them of addressing the issues through a meeting of officials and office-bearers of the organisation.
SUCI(C) office-bearers Gangadhar Badiger, Bhuvana Ballari, Deepa Dharwad, Sharanabasava Gonawar, Bhavanishankar Gouda and others led the protest.
Published – January 30, 2025 09:43 pm IST