The Manav Adhikar Suraksha Manch (MASM) has Saturday threatened to begin an indefinite dharna at the MKCG Medical College Hospital here from the Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 to press for better healthcare at the premier medical college.
The MASM led by its convener Abani Kumar Gaya submitted a memorandum to the Health Minister through the Central RDC in this regard.
The memorandum sought filling up of all vacant doctor and paramedical posts and supply of medical equipment to the medical college at the earliest.
“Due to dearth of doctors, paramedical staffs and healthcare equipment in almost all the departments, patients are being deprived of proper healthcare and the number of deaths, including of newborns, has increased drastically,” said Gaya.
The departments which run with shortage of doctors include Cardiology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Paedriatic surgery and Medicine.
While poor and rural patients are not getting proper treatment at the MKCG, they are being exploited by private nursing homes, lamented Gaya.
Criticising the Government for collecting lakhs of rupees as user’s fees from patients every day, Gaya alleged that State Government is knowingly encouraging privatisation of healthcare system in the State for its vested interests.