UDUPI: The new district hospital at Ajjarkad should begin treating patients by November 5 with adequate medical equipment and fully functional facilities, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Praveen Shetty faction) state president Praveen Shetty has urged the district administration.

Addressing a press conference in Udupi on Monday, Shetty said the district administration had assured the organisation that the hospital would become operational by November 5 following its protest demanding the facility’s opening.

However, he expressed concern over reports that equipment from the old district hospital was being shifted to the new building to enable its opening within the deadline. He objected to the move, stating that merely transferring existing equipment would not meet the organisation’s demand for a properly equipped hospital.

Karave objects to shifting old equipment

Shetty said the organisation’s primary demand was that the new hospital be opened with the medical equipment and infrastructure necessary to provide quality treatment.

He alleged that the authorities were attempting to expedite the opening by installing equipment from the old hospital in the new building. According to him, this approach could undermine the objective of establishing a modern healthcare facility for patients in the district.

He stressed that the administration should ensure that the hospital is equipped to deliver appropriate medical services rather than focus only on making the building operational.

Deadline must be honoured, says Praveen Shetty

Recalling the administration’s assurance, Shetty called on the district authorities and the concerned departments to ensure that all necessary facilities were in place before November 5.

He said the new hospital should be capable of providing reliable treatment, particularly for economically disadvantaged patients who depend on public healthcare services.

Shetty warned that the organisation would launch an intensified protest if the district administration or the concerned department neglected the healthcare needs of poor patients. He said the organisation had previously warned of stronger action if its demands were not addressed.

Office-bearers attend press conference

The press conference was attended by Karave state coordinator Prasanna Shetty, district honorary president Ansar Ahmed and other office-bearers.

The organisation has reiterated its demand for the timely opening of the Ajjarkad district hospital with adequate medical equipment and facilities. The district administration’s November 5 deadline is now central to the issue, with Karave calling for the assurance to be honoured without compromising the quality of healthcare available to patients.