Don’t you have ‘health card’? Don’t worry. You’ll get treatment in private-govt. hospitals
Bengaluru, August 02: Saying that the government would issue universal health cards under the ‘Arogya Karnataka’ programme by 2019, Health Minister Shivanand Patil said that those who do not have health cards could also get treatment in both government and private hospital by producing ration card.
Speaking to reporters at the Vidhana Soudha here on Thursday, the Minister said that people need not worry about not having health cards. If they have ration cards, they could get treatment in government and private hospitals. Health card is mandatory for treatment. But there is no compulsion to get health cards. Under this programme, the treatment was being given based on APL and BPL card categories, he said.
The In-Patients were being given the health cards after giving them the treatment. There was no condition that people should have health cards before admitting into hospital. So, there was no need to stand in queues to get health cards, the Minister clarified.
Treatment even without health card
Treatment was given to more than 15,000 patients in private hospitals based on ration cards under this scheme. By August end, the distribution of health cards in 11 major general hospitals would be completed. In the first phase, 3 lakh cards were distributed. In taluk hospitals, registration of patients and distribution of cards would be commenced in October. There was a plan to merge Ayushman Bharat of the Central government and Arogya Karnataka scheme of the state government and introduce a model healthcare programme in the state, he said.
It was planned to give healthcare facility to over 2 crore population including 62 lakh families under Ayushman Bharat scheme and 1.20 crore under Arogya Karnataka scheme, he said.
No scarcity of doctors
The government has solved the doctors problem in government hospitals. Doctors were available in all hospitals and specialist doctors were also appointed. The doctors who have been to higher education while in duty, have returned to their profession. So, there was no scarcity of doctors. In order to fill the specialist doctors in government hospitals, the government has started bid (auction) system. Out of 300 doctors participated in the bid, 200 doctors were working. Within a week, once again the private doctors would be invited for the bid, he said.
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Karnataka govt forms SIT to probe cases against BJP MLA Munirathna
Bengaluru, Sep 21: The Karnataka government on Saturday constituted a Special Investigation Team headed by Additional Director General of Police (CID) B K Singh to probe three criminal cases registered against BJP MLA Munirathna, including a casteist slur and a rape case.
The announcement came after a court remanded Munirathna to 14 days’ judicial custody in an alleged rape case earlier in the day.
The investigation team also comprises three IPS officers, Labhu Ram, Soumyalatha S K and C A Simon.
The team has been asked to probe not only the three cases against him but also all the cases registered against the MLA and his aides in various police stations across the state.
Munirathna was arrested a week ago in connection with two FIRs being lodged against him for alleged harassment, threats and casteist abuse.
Soon after he was released on bail, he was arrested in a rape case and was remanded to judicial custody on Saturday.
The cases against the Rajarajeshwarinagar MLA were filed at Vyalikaval police station on September 13.
In the first FIR filed by the police based on a complaint by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contractor Cheluvaraju, the MLA is accused of demanding Rs 30 lakh as a bribe and threatening to terminate his contract if he did not pay the money.
The contractor alleged that Munirathna had initially demanded Rs 20 lakh in 2021 for a solid waste disposal contract. However, despite making that payment for getting 10 auto trippers for a waste management contract, he was not sanctioned those vehicles by the civic body.
According to the FIR, Cheluvaraju was being repeatedly harassed by the MLA, who allegedly verbally abused him and also physically assaulted him.
In the complaint, the contractor further alleged that the MLA did not allow him to execute his work and had even slapped him in September 2023.
Three others, including government officials, were also named in the FIR for allegedly threatening, abusing and harassing the contractor.
Cheluvaraju also claimed in the complaint that he contemplated ending his life because of the repeated harassment.
The contractor has also released a purported audio recording of a phone conversation between him and Munirathna.
According to the police, the second FIR against the accused MLA was filed on the complaint of a BBMP corporator who alleged that Munirathna had hurled casteist abuse, and insulted his caste and family.
The third case was registered on September 19 against Munirathna and six others following the complaint by a 40- year-old woman who alleged that the rape took place at a private resort within the Kaggalipura police station’s jurisdiction.
While Munirathna said the allegations against him were "far from truth", the BJP called it the politics of vendetta.
"For the last 15 years, there have been no allegations by a contractor or from the public that Munirathna has used derogatory language. After the Lok Sabha polls and results, conspiracies have been planned against me," the MLA said.
