Health Minister Shivananda Patil promised to upgrade the district government hospital.

“Better facilities will be made available to the poor patients visiting the hospital,” he told reporters after visiting the on Saturday.

The minister said currently the hospital has sufficient number of medical and para medical staffs. Once the hospital is upgraded, measures will be taken to ensure additional required staffs. New ambulances will be deployed into service shortly. Nearly 400 doctors and 1,600 nurses have been recruited in the state. The ambulances will also be allotted to Udupi district.

Citizens met the minister and urged him and the government not to hand over Koosamma Shambhu Shetty Memorial Haji Abdullah Maternity and Children Hospital, Udupi, to a private party. BRS Ventures is entrusted with a task of managing the 200-bedded hospital and also another multi-speciality hospital.

Civic Federation of Save Government Maternity and Children Hospital Struggle Committee, Udupi, convener Dr P V Bhandary said the association is against the agreement. “A case in connection with the issue is pending in court. However, since September 22, the treatment facilities at the old building of the child and maternity hospital has been stopped and made available at the new building. Philanthropist Haji Abdullah had donated the land only for a government hospital. Now a private company is having the stake in the new building,” Dr Bhandary added.

MLA Raghupathy Bhat also met the minister and requested him against handing over the hospital.

Patil said that it was a decision that was already taken by the government. He promised to direct the private venture to abide by the suggestions of the citizens and the elected representatives in the area in the process of offering the health care amenities.