Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru (RJP)
Bengaluru, Jul 17 : They were all united this time cutting across party lines when it came to attacking health and family welfare minister U T Khader on Thursday for not doing enough to check the rising dengue cases and shortage of doctors in the State.
"A patient has to spend a minimum Rs 14,000 to get treatment in private hospitals," said S Suresh Kumar from BJP while criticizing the minister for not doing enough to prevent the spread of dengue.
“Treatment for dengue fever is very expensive. The poor patients are badly hit. The health and family welfare department has not taken any measure to control it. The department blames urban local bodies for dengue cases in urban areas. The first thing the department should understand is that mosquitoes do not have any jurisdiction,” K R Ramesh Kumar from Congress said.
Khader in reply said "So far there have been only one confirmed case of dengue death in the State. There are three more suspected dengue deaths. Of the total 12,201 suspected cases, 1,586 are confirmed dengue cases." Khader also said that steps were being taken to prevent breeding of mosquitoes that cause dengue.
The members again cutting across party lines slammed Khader for defending the department.
Ramesh Kumar said “Dengue is wreaking havoc in the State, but the minister argues that the number of cases is less compared to last year. Nobody is bothered about your
numbers. The health officials would not act like this if their dear ones had died,”
“The BBMP officials are using water to fumigate neighbourhoods in the absence of prescribed chemicals. I have purchased the chemical spending money from my pocket in my constituency. I am ready to take you to the worst-affected places in my constituency,” K Gopalaiah from JD (S) said.
"Breeding of mosquitoes cannot be controlled unless spraying was done at regular intervals. Neither the BBMP nor the health department is scientifically dealing with the issue. The system of reporting dengue cases is also faulty," Dr C N Ashwath Narayan from BJP said.
“It appears that the minister is helpless and is not able to take independent decisions. He may say yes here, but the person sitting here has to sanction,” Dr C N Ashwath Narayan stated pointing at chief minister Siddaramaiah’s chair.
Earlier the members, many of whom are Congress MLAs, demanded that the services of contract doctors be continued and the process to transfer them abandoned.
It was indeed a tough time for Khader in the assmbley when it came to the issues concerning his department.