Former CM Siddharamaiah says many loss-making private hospitals became profitable after COVID-19

Mysore/Mysuru: Amidst his busy pre-election schedule where he is scouting for a suitable place to contest that will ensure his victory, Opposition Leader Siddharamaiah found time to inaugurate a private hospital in Mysuru city yesterday where he called upon hospitals to be patient-friendly.

“Many private hospitals and multispeciality and superspeciality hospitals that were on the verge of closure thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic. The owners of such hospitals had spread the word that their hospitals were for sale. But the pandemic brought them a windfall of money and the sale plan was dropped,” he said.

“Private hospitals and corporate hospitals must be people-friendly and they must remember that the poor and middle-class patients come there only if it is an emergency. In this situation, hospitals must not fleece the patients. I am not saying that hospitals must not make profits, but in many cases, hospitals charge three to four times more than what is incurred as expenditure. This is wrong,” the former CM said.

Advising the people to take care of their health, Siddharamaiah said that while getting treated for ailments is one thing, preventing the ailment is another with the latter being more beneficial. “I neglected my health when I was a youngster and as a result, I got diabetes and now I am under treatment. Due to the disease, my lifespan has come down by 10 years. But now at 76 years, I am trying to keep myself fit by performing Yoga and other exercises,” he added. Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji, MLA Tanveer Sait, MLCs C.N. Manjegowda, Dr. D. Thimmaiah, former MLA Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa and others were present.