Bengaluru, February 25 Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Wednesday criticized the Congress government over alleged shortages of medicines, widespread irregularities, and disruptions in services within the health department.
He claimed the situation had become so dire that doctors were forced to protest on the streets.
Addressing a press conference here, he said the government led by Siddaramaiah lacked the will to address pressing public issues and accused it of engaging in "blame-game" instead of good governance.
"Due to the irresponsibility of this Congress government, the health department itself is in a critical condition. There is a severe shortage of medicines in government hospitals. The 108 ambulance services are facing serious problems. Doctors have been forced to protest. The Congress government is celebrating its 1,000th day in power with achievement conventions, but it has failed to address real problems," he said.
He criticized the state government for allegedly shutting down Jan Aushadhi centers located on government hospital premises, claiming that needy patients are suffering because they are not getting medicines.
"In the past two months, government doctors themselves have been advising poor patients to buy medicines from private pharmacies because medicines are unavailable in hospitals," he alleged.
Vijayendra further alleged that the state government has reportedly not cleared dues of Rs 143 crore to institutions providing CT scan and MRI services.
"As a result, needy patients in rural and urban areas are unable to access these services. Pregnant women are facing hardships. Doctors are forced to protest...This government claims to be one that delivers on its promises. But does it even have the slightest concern for how poor people are struggling in the healthcare sector," he alleged.
The BJP state president claimed that the Congress government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and its deputy D K Shivakumar is not pro-poor; instead, it is a government that supports middlemen.
"Who is responsible for the medicine shortage in government hospitals and medical colleges? The state government and the concerned ministers are responsible. According to information available to me, under pressure from influential individuals, irregularities are taking place in medicine procurement. Instead of purchasing medicines through authorized central and state agencies, the government has moved to fragmented district- and taluk-level tenders," he claimed.
He further alleged that due to commission demands of 15-20 per cent, many companies and public enterprises are not participating in tenders, worsening the system.
Vijayendra claimed that the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation's procurement system has been sidelined, leading to an artificial shortage of medicines.
He also alleged that a private individual from Mangaluru is controlling the state's medicine procurement system, supplying medicines to most government hospitals.
"This has led to market prices being inflated. Medicines costing Rs 100 are reportedly being purchased for Rs 300. I will provide more documents and evidence in the coming days," he claimed.
He also alleged that staff associated with the 108 ambulance services have not been paid salaries for the past eight to nine months.
"The government must take responsibility and reform the system instead of protecting middlemen," he added.