Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao refuted allegations made by Opposition leaders during a debate under Rule 69 on medical mafia and maternal deaths. The minister addressed claims of a transfer scam and shortages of medicines. He said that his department has implemented reforms and acted responsibly.
During the debate, BJP MLA Dr Ashwath Narayan was accused of presenting inaccurate information. “His voice is loud, but shouldn’t the information be true?” said the health minister. He was dissatisfied. Gundu Rao said that no unwarranted transfers had been conducted this year and all transfers were being handled through a counseling process based on seniority.
Rao defends transfer policy
“We are preparing a seniority list and transfers will be made based on 12 years of service,” the minister said. He urged opposition parties to approach debates with accuracy and decorum. MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal objected to Gundu Rao’s remarks and accused him of sounding like a Deputy Chief Minister.
Addressing the death of pregnant women linked to medical negligence, Gundu Rao said that a West Bengal-based company involved in the case had been blacklisted in Karnataka, even though it remained operational in other states. He also spoke about reforms in ambulance services, announcing the installation of GPS in 108 ambulances for better monitoring and efficiency.
No hike in hospital service charges charges assured
Responding to concerns about hospital service charges, the minister said no charges had been increased in any hospital. “The service charges are experimental only at KC General Hospital,” he said and added that rates at Bengaluru’s Jayanagar Hospital remained unchanged. Rejecting allegations of medicine shortages, Gundu Rao said, “Since I became minister, 75-80% of medicines have been supplied to hospitals. While there may be some gaps, hospital pharmacies are well-stocked.”
