Mangaluru: Only five primary health centres are serving in Ullal and there is no community hospital, said DYFI state president Munir Katipalla.

Speaking at a protest meet at new bus stand in Thokkottu on Tuesday, he said that there is a need to control private hospitals in the region which have been harassing the poor patients by making hefty bills. As per the government policy, there should be 10 PHCs and three community health centres for a population of 3.5 lakh people. He asked whether the legislator of the region was not aware of this criterion.

Dengue and Malaria patients have to pay up to Rs 20,000 while people with bone injuries or kidney failure are forced to mortgage their land and house to clear bills up to Rs 1,30000 at private hospitals. If the bills are not cleared, the hospitals refuse to hand over the bodies to the family members.

The private hospitals are doing business. Moreover, they are not displaying the rate card. The MP from the region is also not doing anything in this regard and are dividing people on the basis of community. The district administration should take immediate measures towards drawing a proposal for the construction of community health centres and primary health centres, he complained.

Meanwhile, a memorandum was submitted to district Health Officer Rajesh.
DYFI Ullal regional secretary Jivan Raj Kuttar, zonal president Ashok Shetty Chembugudde and district secretary Santhosh Kumar Bajal were present.