Karnataka: Hospitals shut doors on patients

BELAGAVI: Despite stern warnings from the state government, more than 50% of private clinics in many districts in North Karnataka are shut, denying treatment for non-Covid patients and putting lives of patients at risk.
Earlier this week, Pushpa Hubli, an elderly woman, passed away after three hospitals refused treatment in Belagavi. One private hospital admitted her and administered oxygen before staff, fearing Covid infection, told her family to take her elsewhere.
Mahatesh, Pushpa’s son, said she suffered from nausea and dysentery and they had taken her to another hospital which was only partially shut. But they were denied treatment. They also took her to KLE Hospital, where staff demanded a Covid negative certificate before admitting her.
Mahatesh said he rushed to Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences, where, in 20 minutes, he managed to secure clearance, but it was too late. He now plans to sue the hospitals which refused treatment.
Activist Ashok Chandaragi said Mahatesh’s experience is a common one across North Karnataka. He said he wrote to MLA Satish Jarkiholi and Belagavi deputy commissioner (DC) MG Hiremath demanding action against erring private clinics. Chandaragi said closure of clinics is leading to a spike in non-Covid deaths.
Hiremath told TOI, “I request people to bring such incidents to my notice so that action can be initiated. On our part, rapid antigen kits will be supplied to conduct tests and identify Covid cases if necessary.”
Syed Hafizullah and Vinay Malige, both social activists, said the situation is similar in Raichur, Yadgir, Bidar, Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts. Hafizullah said in Raichur and Yadgir districts, doctors are available only one day in the week, while on other days paramedical staff hang around just to show the clinic is open. They send away patients saying the doctor unavailable.
“This has become a rampant practice,” Hafizullah said. “In this time of crisis, it is a moral obligation for doctors to attend to duty.”
Vinay Malige, a resident of Bidar, said DCs must conduct inspections and take action against erring institutions, while Anil Patil, a member of Indian Medical Association, said due to fear of Covid, paramedics, ward boys and other healthcare workers are not turning up for duty. “This has led to a staff crunch in hospitals and clinics,” Patil said. “Hospitals are unable to handle cases due to lack of human resources.”
He said the government must permit antibody tests to detect infection so that every time a patient with Covid symptoms arrives, tests can be conducted in hospitals rather than referring them to government hospitals and labs.
Bidar DC, R Ramachandran said the problem has been “streamlined” now, clinics are opening and things are steadily improving.