PIL Raises Concerns Over Staff Shortage and Removal of MRI, CT Scan Facilities
The Karnataka High Court has issued a notice to the State Government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the delayed upgradation of Pandit General Hospital in Sirsi and the shortage of doctors, specialists, and medical staff at the healthcare facility.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice K.S. Hemalekha passed the order while hearing a petition filed by the Ananta Murthy Hegde Charitable Trust.
Hospital Expansion Announced in 2020-21 Budget Yet to Be Completed
According to the petition, the Karnataka Government had announced in its 2020-21 Budget the expansion of Pandit General Hospital in Sirsi from a 100-bed facility to a 250-bed hospital. The decision was taken in view of the deteriorating condition of the existing hospital infrastructure and the increasing patient load from Sirsi, Siddapur, Haliyal, and Mundgod taluks.
The project was approved at an estimated cost of ₹26.08 crore, including the procurement of an MRI scanner worth ₹15 crore and a CT scanner valued at ₹1.7 crore. The hospital upgrade was expected to be completed within three years, and tenders were awarded accordingly.
Five Years Later, Construction Remains Incomplete
The petitioner informed the court that despite five years having passed since the announcement, the hospital project remains unfinished. It was alleged that only around 80 percent of the construction work has been completed so far, raising concerns about delays in delivering critical healthcare infrastructure to the region.
Petition Challenges Reduction in Medical Equipment Budget
The PIL also challenges a 2024 decision by the State Government to revise the project proposal. According to the petitioner, the approved budget for medical equipment was reportedly reduced from ₹26 crore to ₹5.20 crore.
The revised proposal allegedly removed key diagnostic facilities, including MRI and CT scan machines, a move the petitioner described as arbitrary, discriminatory, and harmful to public healthcare services in Uttara Kannada district.
Demand for Immediate Recruitment of Specialists
As part of the interim relief sought before the court, the petitioner has requested directions to the State Government for the immediate temporary recruitment of doctors and specialists in the Cardiology and Neurology departments.
The petition argues that the absence of specialist services forces patients from Uttara Kannada district to travel long distances for emergency treatment, potentially endangering lives and delaying critical medical care.
High Court Issues Notice to Karnataka Government
Taking note of the submissions, the Karnataka High Court issued a notice to the State Government and sought its response on the allegations related to the delayed hospital expansion, reduction in medical equipment allocation, and shortage of healthcare professionals at the Sirsi hospital.
