Mangaluru: Members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and like-minded organisations staged a protest on Tuesday, demanding the cancellation of an agreement that allows private medical colleges to provide services in government hospitals. They also urged the immediate establishment of a government medical college in Dakshina Kannada district.
Protest March and Police Detention
The protest march began from the premises of Wenlock District Hospital and proceeded towards the office of Dakshina Kannada district minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. However, before reaching the minister's office, police detained the protesters.
DYFI Leaders Speak Out
Addressing the protest, DYFI Dakshina Kannada district president BK Imthiyaz said that the organisation's longstanding demands have been ignored by the Congress government. Instead of strengthening government hospitals, the health department has surrendered to the profit motives of private hospitals. He added, "The opposition party BJP has also remained silent on this issue. Both Congress and BJP in the district seem to have a similar inclination towards the profit of private hospitals. The movement will continue until our demands are met."
DYFI Dakshina Kannada district secretary Santhosh Bajal highlighted that the number of patients suffering from heart disease and cancer in government hospitals in the district has increased a hundredfold in just one year. Despite demands for branches of Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology and Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Mangaluru, the minister has ignored the health rights of the people. Bajal asserted that DYFI will not back down from the struggle to strengthen government hospitals, even if permission for protests is denied. He further stated that if Health Minister Gundu Rao cannot ensure the health rights of the people, he should resign and step down.
Flagging Off and Detention
Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA) president Narendra Nayak flagged off the march. The protesters were detained by police before they could reach the district minister's office.
