Forums to protest against PPP model

Mangaluru: Two organisations, which share the goal of ensuring access to quality healthcare and medical education in undivided Dakshina Kannada, will hold a protest march and meeting for fully-funded medical colleges, instead of those under public-private-partnership (PPPs).
A few days ago, the state government announced that as many as 11 medical colleges will come up under the (PPP) model in 11 districts, including Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. The ‘Sarakaari Aspatre Ulisi Horaata Samithi’, Udupi, and ‘Sarakari Medical College Horaata Samithi’, Puttur, Dakshina Kannasa, have objected to the move, and demanded that it be completely funded by the government, and not under the PPP model.
Addressing reporters on Saturday, Anna Vinayachandra, former MLC and honorary president of the Sarakari Medical College Horaata Samithi, said the government has earmarked 40 acres for a government medical college in Sediyapu, Puttur. Another seven acres has been identified near the existing Puttur government hospital, for upgrading it to 300 beds, from the existing150, which is a requirement for a medical college.
Vinayachandra said that PPP models never worked, citing the example of Koosamma Shambhu Shetty Memorial Haji Abdullah Mother and Child Hospital in Udupi, and another private hospital that took over a government hospital in Ballari. None of them are operational now, he said. “We are unhappy because the ulterior motive of the PPP model is not quality healthcare, but profit-making,” he said. He said that the demands of the samithis will be highlighted through ‘Bruhath Kaalu Nadige Jaatha’ and ‘Janaarogyakkaagi Naavu Samavesha’, to be held at Kille Maidan in Puttur, on Thursday. On April 1, a protest march titled ‘Naavu Innoo Kooda Moorkhare’ will take place near the Gandhi statue in Malpe, Udupi, to raise awareness about these issues.