Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru Oct 6: MLA U T Khader urged to set up a toll-free helpline number at the deputy commissioner's office or district in-charge minister office pertaining to health.
Addressing media here on Tuesday, October 6 Khader said, "The Ayushman Bharat scheme which is introduced by the government is not so effective and has failed to reach to people. No patient has benefitted hassle-free service under Ayushman Bharath scheme".
Khader said that the change of nodal officer in such crucial times has resulted in a lot of inconvenience and confusion among the public and alleged the government's apathy on the situation of people.
"The government keeps track of the money spent on the scheme as well as the people getting benefitted under the scheme. What about the people suffering due to the scheme, the government should keep track even on those too. Government has no clarity about the scheme and there is lot of confusion created among the people. Even the nodal officers have been changed. If the government had some concern towards people, it would realise that there was no need to change the nodal officers in this critical situation. People are clueless about whom to contact in emergency situations. Therefore, there is a need to set up a toll-free helpline number at the deputy commissioners office or district in-charge minister office pertaining to health to avoid confusion among people," Khader said.
He further said that the nodal officers were replaced with dental doctors and ayurvedic doctors. "What was the need to change nodal officers. There must be some experienced officers, MSW graduates to handle this. Will the dental doctors or ayurvedic doctors agree to do this job for Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 salary? he questioned.
Former MLA Abhaya Chandra Jain said, "There are several instances where the hospitals extract additional bill and people fail to reap benefit from Ayushman Bharat scheme. District in-charge minister and health minister have huge responsibility on their shoulders to take care of this situation and resolve this confusion in the implementation of Ayushman Bharat scheme. Every minister has some responsibility as we are selected by public to serve them."