DYFI Alleges Neglect of Government Hospitals in Dakshina Kannada, Holds Protest in Mangaluru

DYFI Alleges Neglect of Government Hospitals in Dakshina Kannada, Holds Protest in Mangaluru

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb. 9, 2026: Alleging severe neglect of government healthcare facilities in Dakshina Kannada district, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) on Monday staged a protest in front of the Mini Vidhana Soudha here, demanding urgent intervention to strengthen the public health system.

Addressing the gathering, DYFI Dakshina Kannada district secretary Santosh Bajal said the condition of government hospitals in the district had deteriorated drastically. He pointed out that there are no government taluk hospitals in five taluks of the district, including Mangaluru, and alleged that the MLAs representing these constituencies were more focused on prestige-related issues such as Kambala than on ensuring basic healthcare facilities.

The protest, organised under the leadership of the DYFI district committee, demanded the establishment of a government medical college in Dakshina Kannada and the setting up of super-speciality hospitals such as Jayadeva, Kidwai and NIMHANS. The demonstrators also sought the creation of primary health centres, community health centres and taluk hospitals in proportion to the population.

Santosh Bajal said it was difficult to imagine the state of healthcare in the district had the British not built Wenlock and Lady Goschen hospitals. “In a democracy, elected representatives are not even speaking about issues that affect people’s lives. Not a single BJP MLA, even while in the Opposition, has raised concerns about the mismanagement of government hospitals in the district. This shows an unwillingness to confront private hospitals,” he alleged, warning that DYFI would continue its agitation until the demands are met.

DYFI Dakshina Kannada district president B.K. Imtiaz alleged that healthcare in the district has become unaffordable for those without money and accused private hospitals of charging varying rates for the same procedures without regulation. He urged MLAs to shift focus from events such as Kambala and cockfighting to public health issues.

Rationalist Prof. Narendra Nayak, advocate Manoj Vamanjoor, Shyam Sundar, DYFI Ullal taluk president and advocate Nithin Kuttar, Dalit organisation leader Kamalaksha Bajal, DYFI leader and advocate Charan Shetty, and Madhuri Bolar also addressed the protest.

Mangaluru taluk health officer Dr. Prajay visited the protest site, received the memorandum and assured that DYFI’s demands would be conveyed to the concerned government departments and the Health Minister.