<p>Having prohibited public celebrations, Karnataka will come up with detailed guidelines for celebrating New Year during the pandemic in a day or two, Health Minister K Sudhakar informed the Legislative Council on Monday.</p>.<p>Sudhakar said that the government was ready to tackle a possible second wave of Covid-19.</p>.<p>“We’re taking all measures to prepare for such an event,” he said, adding that restricting New Year celebrations will also be important to curb the spread of the pandemic.</p>.<p>On complaints of overcharging and related issues faced by Covid-19 patients and victims, he said that the grievance cell of Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust had received 122 complaints, adding that directions were issued to initiate action against erring parties.</p>.<p>JD(S) member S L Bhojegowda noted that families of Covid-19 victims were being charged lakhs of rupees by hospitals and there were instances when hospitals had refused to hand over bodies, pending payment. Highlighting the plight of one Padmakshi, a teacher from Moodbidire in Dakshina Kannada district, Bhojegowda said she was charged Rd 6.5 lakh for hospitalisation and treatment.</p>.<p>Sudhakar said cases of overcharging generally pertained to cases where admissions to hospitals were made without the government referral system for Covid-19 patients. </p>.<p>To a question on appointment of doctors and medical staff during the pandemic, Sudhakar said the government was mulling over extending the services of 6,500 contract personnel.</p>.<p>Apart from the contract employees, the government has created 2,155 posts - 1,246 general duty doctors, 88 dental doctors and 824 medical staff - for which appointments will be finalised soon, he said. </p>
<p>Having prohibited public celebrations, Karnataka will come up with detailed guidelines for celebrating New Year during the pandemic in a day or two, Health Minister K Sudhakar informed the Legislative Council on Monday.</p>.<p>Sudhakar said that the government was ready to tackle a possible second wave of Covid-19.</p>.<p>“We’re taking all measures to prepare for such an event,” he said, adding that restricting New Year celebrations will also be important to curb the spread of the pandemic.</p>.<p>On complaints of overcharging and related issues faced by Covid-19 patients and victims, he said that the grievance cell of Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust had received 122 complaints, adding that directions were issued to initiate action against erring parties.</p>.<p>JD(S) member S L Bhojegowda noted that families of Covid-19 victims were being charged lakhs of rupees by hospitals and there were instances when hospitals had refused to hand over bodies, pending payment. Highlighting the plight of one Padmakshi, a teacher from Moodbidire in Dakshina Kannada district, Bhojegowda said she was charged Rd 6.5 lakh for hospitalisation and treatment.</p>.<p>Sudhakar said cases of overcharging generally pertained to cases where admissions to hospitals were made without the government referral system for Covid-19 patients. </p>.<p>To a question on appointment of doctors and medical staff during the pandemic, Sudhakar said the government was mulling over extending the services of 6,500 contract personnel.</p>.<p>Apart from the contract employees, the government has created 2,155 posts - 1,246 general duty doctors, 88 dental doctors and 824 medical staff - for which appointments will be finalised soon, he said. </p>
