Medical Education Minister picks up doctors at Kidwai Hospital

BENGALURU: Following repeated complaints from people, Medical Education Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil on Wednesday paid a surprise visit to Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology and Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, both of which are plagued with problems.

The minister kept doctors and staff on the line about the functioning of the hospitals.

Patil started his surprise visit to Kidwai where he interacted with the patients and collected their views on the facilities, quality of food served and treatment provided.

He inquired with the institute administrator Manjushree and the director about the number of patients and type of treatments and the prompt service.

Patients complained of denial of free treatment despite having BPL cards, prescription of expensive drugs and ‘insensitive’ treatment of shoddy patients. Dr. Patil instructed the doctors to take corrective action.

Addressing reporters, Patil admitted that problems persist in Kidwai. “But development works are also being carried out. There is no more waiting time.”

As patients from different parts of the state face difficulties in visiting Bengaluru for cancer treatment, the government plans to open Kidwai-like hospitals in Tumakuru, Shivamogga, Mandya and Karwar, Patil said. “We are also planning to open an Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health at Kalaburagi. We will continue to take steps to address the issues at the hospital.”