Lokayukta all praise for govt hospital docs in Udupi

Lokayukta Vishwanath Shetty visited the Udupi district government hospital on Saturday and was impressed with the service mind of the doctors and all the other paramedical staffs.

Speaking to reporters later, he said that he has no qualms over the conduct of the doctors as they are highly committed to their service.

Stating that the only grievance he has is that the hospital suffers from lack of basic infrastructural facilities, he said that he would be raising the issue with the authorities concerned and would be working towards improving their condition.

He added that he would be visiting government hospitals all over the state and would take suo-moto action if the need arises.

Health of poor

Expressing concern about the health of poor people, he said that he is also worried about their education. Any lapse in this would not be tolerated, he cautioned.

The fact that the Udupi district government hospital is rendering good service to the people is proved since many patients are visiting the hospital. The public trusts the doctors who are serving in the hospital. Poor people especially prefer this hospital for their better service.

He added that the problems here are that the hospital only has basic infrastructural facilities. The issue should be brought to the notice of the government.

Asserting that he is looking into the verification of the health care facilities offered in the hospitals, the Lokayukta said that he is aware that the majority of the public depend on the government hospitals for their treatment. Stressing the need to upgrade the 55-year-old district hospital, he said that if he finds loopholes in the health care facilities, he is empowered to initiate suo-moto action.

He declined to comment on the delay in the services offered by the government maternity and children hospital run by BRS Ventures. He added that he is not aware of the actual situation.

However, he has gathered the details over the delay in the opening of the proposed hospital. He would visit the hospital in his next visit to the district and would like to elaborate on the issue.

To a query on the issue about the abolition of the position of Lokayukta, he said that he would not like to react as the issue is in the court. He said that he has disclosed his opinion to the court through his counsel and it is the court that will decide over the final decree. He said he has around 3.8 years of tenure pending. He would like to offer his best to the service of the institution.