Malenadu Janapara Okkutta Demands Urgent Staffing at Sringeri Govt Hospital
In Chikkamagaluru, the Malenadu Karavali Janapara Okkutta has issued a strong demand to the health department to resolve critical issues plaguing the government hospital in Sringeri. The members convened a meeting where they urgently called for officials to fill all vacant posts to ensure effective and reliable health services for the local community.
Critical Staff Shortages Endanger Patient Lives
Anil Hoskoppa, the state coordinator of the Okkutta, highlighted the severe challenges faced by patients in the Malnad region. He explained that traveling from remote villages to the taluk centre is a major hurdle, with many lives tragically lost during journeys to other towns due to the absence of adequate medical facilities at the local hospital.
"As there are no obstetricians or paediatricians at the government hospital, pregnant women endure immense hardship without access to proper medical care," Hoskoppa stated. He further detailed that the hospital lacks not only these specialists but also general surgeons, gynaecologists, ophthalmologists, orthopaedics, ENT specialists, dermatologists, and radiologists, creating a dire healthcare vacuum.
Failed Appeals and Allegations of Harassment
Despite repeated appeals to the health minister, the situation remains unchanged, according to Hoskoppa. "Nothing has been done to address these critical gaps, leaving the community vulnerable," he alleged. The Okkutta also raised serious concerns about the treatment of doctors at the hospital, claiming that those serving there face harassment and arbitrary transfers, further destabilizing healthcare delivery.
Threat of Indefinite Protest
Frustrated by the lack of action, the members have issued a stern warning. They declared that if the problems are not resolved promptly, they will launch an indefinite protest to draw attention to the urgent need for staffing and infrastructure improvements at the Sringeri facility.
The meeting was attended by key figures including Vitlapura Subrahmanya Acharya, Muralidhar Pai, and Adesh Kudlumakki, among others, underscoring the collective concern over the hospital's deteriorating state and the broader impact on public health in the region.
