Udupi: Protest against shifting old medical equipment to new district hospital

Udupi: Protest against shifting old medical equipment to new district hospital

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Oct 24, 2026: The Udupi district unit of the Tulunadu Rakshana Vedike staged a protest in front of the newly constructed district hospital on Friday, opposing the relocation of old medical equipment and existing staff from the old hospital to the new facility.

Addressing the protesters, district president Franky D’Souza Kolalgiri said the new district hospital had been constructed at a cost of ₹110 crore and should be equipped with new medical equipment instead of outdated equipment from the existing hospital.

He also urged the authorities not to put pressure on the staff currently serving at the old hospital. Instead, new personnel required for the newly constructed facility should be appointed before the hospital is made operational, he said.

The government has already released ₹9 crore for the hospital, and the funds should be utilised to procure and install new medical equipment, he added. He opposed the hurried inauguration of the hospital using old equipment.

Following the protest, the demonstrators visited the district hospital and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner through medical officer Dr Vasudeva S.

Among those present were Jaya Poojari of Lakshminagar, Nagalakshmi of Subramanya Nagar, Shankar Udupi, Nithin Kumar Shetty, Anusuya Shetty, Pavithra, Nirmala Mendon, Vanitha, Gayathri, Preetham D’Costa, Gunakar Halakki, Uday, Ravi, Ramesh, Santosh Bhandary, Gulabi Kotian, Harinakshi, Rajashree, Shamala and Usha Somashekar, among others.