Cong protests lack of ICU beds, ventilators for Covid patients

Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee held a protest in front of Wenlock District Hospital on Monday demanding the government to provide facilities for patients infected with coronavirus.
DCC president K Harish Kumar said poor patients were deprived of treatment in Wenlock Hospital due to lack of oxygen beds and ventilators. He demanded the resignation of health minister B Sriramulu for failing to manage Covid-19 situation effectively in the state.
Former MLA J R Lobo said, “The state and central governments have failed to manage the Covid-19 situation. People are forced to run between hospitals in the city to get treatment. Meanwhile, private hospitals are charging exorbitantly for the treatment. The BJP government is directly responsible for the sufferings of people.”
Former MLC Ivan D’Souza said that the state government has been neglecting the health of people. “Wenlock Hospital has been declared as a designated Covid Hospital, but the government has failed to provide necessary facilities like ventilators, ICU beds and oxygen beds. This has led to the death of many Covid-19 infected persons. We can see a board announcing the non-availability of ventilators and beds in front of Wenlock Hospital. However, the government is engaged in bed purchase scam,” Ivan said adding that the health department has considered Covid-19 a business.
Majority of the Covid-19 victims in Dakshina Kannada district have died due to lack of ventilators and ICU beds, he alleged. “Health minister and the district in-charge ministers of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi should own up the responsibility and resign immediately. Similarly, the government should take control the private hospitals and medical colleges and provide free treatment to all Covid-19 patients,” Ivan said and warned a state-wide protest.