Mangaluru: Govt's second medical opinion initiative fizzles in second year itself

Mangaluru: Satish Shetty's neighbour, in Kedur in Kundapur taluk, after receiving the biopsy report confirming cancer, was keen on a 'second medical opinion' to understand the severity of the disease and total cost of treatment. 

"When the neighbour came to me seeking help, I referred him to Dr Annaiah Kulal's Sarvajna second opinion centre in Mangaluru, which has been offering free second medical opinions since a decade," Satish told DH when contacted. Satish or his neighbour or retired revenue inspector from Beltangady Padma Kumar, who guides patients seeking second medical opinion to experts in Mangaluru, were unaware about the government's  ‘Free second medical opinion" programme for critical surgeries'. 

'Game changer'

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had launched the department of health and family welfare's free second medical opinion programme in Bengaluru in November 2024. All a patient had to do was dial the 24x7 toll-free helpline (1800 425 8330) and receive a second opinion from specialist doctors. A patient also could share medical records on whatsApp for detailed diagnosis. Experts not only cleared doubts about the necessity of surgery but provided second opinions for procedures like knee replacement, hip replacement surgeries, sources said.

Columnist M Gautham Machaiah had hailed the initiative as a game-changer for poor patients in his post uploaded on X. "This initiative where specialist doctors will provide expert guidance for complex surgeries, is a game-changer for those who can't afford a second opinion," Gautham had stressed. In the first year of its launch (2024-25), the initiative had received good response with 98 calls seeking advice, according to information obtained from Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust under RTI by DH.

Fizzled out, why ?

16 medical reports had been shared on WhatsApp and experts had provided professional advice on the care choices. But in 2025-26, the helpline received poor response with only one caller seeking second opinion and one medical report being shared on WhatsApp, information obtained under RTI revealed. Ulthooru Pratap Shetty, advisor to Mahalingeshwara Yuvaka mandala near Kota, says government spends a lot of money during the launch of nobel initiatives.

"But no awareness programmes were organised to sustain such people-friendly initiatives," rues Pratap who says he is aware about the free second opinion programme. Dr Annaiah Kulal of Sarvajna second opinion centre says everyday he meets four to five patients seeking second medical opinion. "Some of them are even from outside state," he said. "A patient is willing to seek second medical opinion only when trust and faith are firmly established," said Dr Annaiah based on his decade-long experience.

Minister speak

Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao during his visit to Mangaluru on Saturday admitted that the initiative had received lukewarm response from the public in previous financial year. "We need to look into the reasons (behind poor response)  and release advertisements (to create awareness)," Minister told DH.