Karnataka - Bangalore

Protest against privatisation of the health sector

Staff Reporter

FOR AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE: Members of National Public Health Alliance and Joint Platform of Action staging a protest in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

BANGALORE: Protesting against the move to privatise the health sector, the National Public Health Alliance (NPHA) and Joint Platform of Action held a demonstration on the occasion of World Health Day on Saturday.

"Granting autonomy to Bangalore Medical College is another step towards privatising healthcare and putting it out of the reach of the poor. Already, introduction of user charges for several facilities has put people to hardship," Gangadhar, secretary of Medical Services Centre, said at the rally.

K.V. Bhat, organising secretary of NPHA, said that though the ostensible aim of granting autonomy was to improve services, many autonomous institutes still had not filled up their vacancies. "So while they have sophisticated equipment, there is no skilled staff to operate the machinery," Mr. Bhat said.

Speaking to The Hindu later, he said that the current rules on autonomy stated that the Government would give financial assistance for seven years after which the hospitals have to manage independently. "The burden then would be shifted to the patients," he said. Instead of providing basic amenities and adequate staff to Primary Health Centres in the State, the Government is focussed more on privatisation, he alleged.

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