Karnataka: Panel to fight for setting up govt medical college in Puttur

MANGALURU: Like-minded people of Puttur taluk in Dakshina Kannada district, are gearing up to fight for a government medical college in the taluk, through an action committee.
The revenue department has reserved 40 acres at Sediyapu village in Bannur in the taluk, for this purpose. However, no decision has been taken by the government, to open a government medical college yet. Hence, like-minded people of Puttur have decided to carry forward their fight through the Puttur Government Medical College Action Committee, and a meeting in this regard will be held on Monday.
Ashok Adamale, general secretary of the action committee, said that the setting up of a medical college in Puttur has been a long- pending demand of the people of the taluk. "Though land has been earmarked for the purpose of setting up a medical college, the project has not been taken up. Meanwhile, the government has plans to hand over nine district hospitals in the state to private stakeholders, and run medical colleges on a PPP mode. This move will affect the poor and middle-class people. Further, our demand for a medical college in Puttur will also not be fulfilled, if the government continues the policy," he said.
People from Puttur, Sullia, Bantwal and Belthangady taluks will meet on Monday, to discuss about the action committee's future course of action, he said. "Our demand is that a government medical college with superspeciality wings offering free treatment should be opened in Puttur, for the convenience of people from Sullia, Belthangady, Kadaba, Bantwal and Kasaragod. Further, a medical college in the taluk will provide jobs, and students from rural areas will also be able to become doctors," he said.
Puttur MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor said the government is seriously considering the setting up of a government medical college in Puttur. "Initially, we will upgrade the taluk hospital in Puttur, by increasing its in-patient capacity from 100 beds to 300 beds. It is a precursor to the larger plan of setting up a government medical college in Puttur ," he added.