Workers protest fee collection in Wenlock, Goschen hospitals

Workers protest fee collection in Wenlock, Goschen hospitals

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Feb 16: A large number of daily wage workers and those working in the unorganised sector staged a protest in front of the Wenlock Hospital here seeking proper medical facilities for them at the hospital.

 

 

The protesters led by Akhila Bharata Karmika Sangha protested against collection of fees by Wenlock and Lady Goschen hospitals for treating workers from the unorganised sector. The sangha said that it would continue the agitation till the demands of the workers were fulfilled.

Chief secretary of the sangha Sudatta Jain said workers from the unorganised sector were being charged hefty fees for treatment in the two hospitals. As they did not have ration cards, these hospitals collected charges that applied to Above Poverty Line (APL) cardholders. A few days ago, a daily wage worker spent nearly Rs. 3,000 on treatment.Mr. Jain said that workers from the unorganised sector have been finding it hard to get treatment in the two government hospitals. Most of the workers were from other parts of the State and they had no Below Poverty Line (BPL) or APL ration cards. Hence, they were not being considered for free treatment. The sangha said the State Government should provide free treatment for workers from the unorganised sector.

The government hospitals should not insist on BPL or APL ration cards to offer treatment. Their protest would continue till the State Government announced a decision in this regard, Mr. Jain said.