Udupi MLA slams govt over hospital shift, warns of protest over rusty beds and lack of facilities

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, October 17, 2026: Udupi MLA Yashpal A. Suvarna has strongly criticised the state government’s proposal to shift the existing 120-bed taluk hospital to the newly constructed district hospital building at Ajjarkad without providing the necessary infrastructure, medical equipment, doctors and staff. He alleged that the move amounted to playing with the health of the people of the district.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, October 16, Suvarna condemned the decision to relocate the taluk hospital to the new six-storey, 250-bed district hospital building without equipping it as envisaged in the original Detailed Project Report (DPR) or bringing it on a par with district hospitals elsewhere in Karnataka.

He alleged that the government had not sanctioned the required posts for doctors, nurses, technical personnel and other staff. Essential medical equipment, including scanning and X-ray machines, as well as furniture, computers and printers, had also not been provided.

The necessary arrangements for sanitation workers and cleaning equipment to maintain the six-storey building were yet to be made, he added.

Expressing concern over the proposed relocation, Suvarna said the existing hospital was being prepared for a shift without any additional facilities. He alleged that the same beds, which were around 30 years old and rusted, would be transferred to the new building.

“Shifting the hospital without the necessary medical facilities would merely mean changing the building, rather than establishing a fully functional district hospital capable of delivering the promised healthcare services,” he said.

The MLA claimed that despite repeatedly raising the issue during Assembly sessions over the past three years, the government had failed to release the required funds. He said he had submitted several representations and written to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, former Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, current Health Minister U.T. Khader, former district in-charge minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar, current district in-charge minister Rizwan Arshad and the concerned officials. However, no concrete action had been taken, he alleged.

Suvarna further pointed out that specialised treatment departments available in district hospitals elsewhere had not been sanctioned for the new Udupi District Hospital. Opening the facility without adequate infrastructure, he said, would dash the hopes of people who had waited for decades for a well-equipped district hospital. It would also affect doctors’ ability to provide proper treatment and cause further hardship to patients.

He objected to the decision to shift the hospital without consulting the local MLA, accusing the state government of consistently neglecting Udupi district, particularly in providing essential healthcare services.

Noting that 28 years had passed since Udupi district was formed, Suvarna urged the government to fulfil the long-standing demand of the people by making the new district hospital fully operational without further delay.

He demanded that adequate doctors, nurses, technical personnel and other staff be appointed for the 250-bed hospital, and that modern medical equipment, new beds, essential supplies and the necessary infrastructure be provided. The hospital should be opened to the public only after it is fully equipped and brought on a par with district hospitals elsewhere in the state, he insisted.

Suvarna said that when he sought clarification from Health Minister U.T. Khader regarding the proposed transfer of old beds and equipment to the new hospital, the minister had reportedly said he was unaware of the matter and would obtain the details before taking appropriate action.

The MLA warned that Khader should visit Udupi within a week and convene a meeting with all district MLAs and officials to discuss the issue and find a suitable solution. If this was not done, Suvarna said he would launch an overnight sit-in protest along with members of the public.

Former Udupi City Municipal Council president Prabhakar Poojary, former Zilla Panchayat president Dinakar Babu and BJP city president Dinesh Amin were present at the press conference.