Don’t misuse helplessness of patients, hospitals told

Minister Shettar chairs meeting with hospital managements

Minister for Large and Medium Industries and district in-charge Jagadish Shettar has appealed to medical professionals not to misuse the helplessness of COVID-19 positive patients and their family members by exerting pressure on them to pay more than the treatment cost fixed by the government. Chairing a meeting of management boards of private hospitals and nodal officers appointed to coordinate with private hospitals in Dharwad on Friday, Mr. Shettar said that with a surge in COVID-19 cases several patients were finding it difficult to pay treatment fees in private hospitals and he would appeal to medical professionals to cooperate with the government in breaking the chain of transmission and also in the treatment of the patients. Mr. Shettar said that at this point of crisis, medical professionals should extend help to the poor and the needy. Only when private hospitals join hands with the government, such challenges could be overcome, he said and added that the government would provide police security to hospitals if they required it.