Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jul 25: Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, Kota Srinivas Poojary, noted that out of eight medical colleges in the district, four have testing facility for COVID. He said that the remaining four colleges have also been asked to open such labs within 15 days. He warned that hospitals violating rules will face action.
He was speaking at the special session held here on Friday in the presence of zilla panchayat members and senior officials which he presided. The meeting discussed about regulating coronavirus infection.
The minister clarified that to get coronavirus tests in these private hospitals identified by the government, presenting Aadhar cards is not a must, and any identity card is enough. For a child aged less than ten months, mother's identity card would suffice. He said that outpatient department has already been opened at Wenlock Hospital and the private hospitals also have been asked to open outpatient departments.
The zilla panchayat members accused private hospitals of robbing the people in the name of COVID test and there are confusions about extending free treatment. District health officer Dr Ratnakar, said that in the eight medical college hospitals treatment under Ayushmann Bharat scheme is available. However, expenses till the throat swab sample test have to be met by the patient, he said, adding that those who are asymptomatic, will be home quarantined but for children aged below ten and people aged above 60, and pregnant women who are infected will be isolated at the COVID care centres. He said that people with symptoms get free treatment for ten days under Ayushmann Bharat scheme at the rate of Rs 5,000 per day in general wards. In the case of ICU with ventilators, under the said scheme, ten days treatment cost at the rate of Rs 25,000 would be met, he stated.
MLAs U T Khader, Sanjeeva Matandoor, Rajesh Naik, Harish Poonja, Umanath Kotian and D Vedavyas Kamath, and MLC Pratap Sinha Nayak, spoke on the occasion. Zilla panchayat president Meenakshi Shantigodu, vice president Kasturi Panja and others were present. MLA Rajesh Naik, put forth the demand to allow family members of the deceased in case of funeral of infected persons. Deputy commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh, said that family members are now being allowed to be present at the funeral along with D group employees.