Mangaluru : Expressing concern over the death of three people because of dengue at a private hospital in Puttur last month, Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader on Sunday told private hospital managements to follow the treatment protocol prescribed for treatment of malaria and dengue. “If you [private hospitals] are confident of treating the patients, then follow the protocol or refer them to the nearest government hospital,” he said at a press conference. Asked whether action would be taken against erring private hospitals, Mr. Khader said, “We are now telling mildly. If they [private hospitals] continue to ignore the treatment protocol, action will be stern.” Mr. Khader told presspersons that one more person was suspected to have died of dengue from the same private hospital in Puttur. “This is quite a serious,” he said and added that the hospital had Ayurvedic practitioners as duty doctors. “We have noticed this delinquency and have issued a notice.” Asked whether the hospital had not followed treatment protocol, the Minister said, “A detailed inquiry is being done to find it out.” The Minister said the State government had taken steps to improve facilities at government hospitals for treatment of persons affected of dengue and other communicable diseases. “Recently a relative of a panchayat member from Belthangady got cured of dengue after he moved from a private hospital to Government Wenlock Hospital,” he said. Mr. Khader asked people not to go for their own medication and come for treatment when the disease takes a serious turn.