PPP model for district hospitals a ‘very sensitive issue’, says Dinesh Gundu Rao

Describing privatisation of district hospitals under public-private partnership (PPP) model as a “very sensitive issue”, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday said he could not promise a blanket halt to all such ventures, even as he acknowledged protests against privatisation in parts of the State.

“Due to long struggles and protests, the Chief Minister has already decided on the Vijayapura PPP issue. However, these decisions are not solely in my hands, and I cannot promise a blanket halt to all PPP ventures,” he said at the valedictory meeting of the Right to Health (RTH) jatha in the city.

The jatha, organised across the State from February 2 to 17 by the Drug Action Forum – Karnataka (DAF-K) and Sarvatrika Arogya Andolana – Karnataka (SAA-K), along with around 40 partner organisations, concluded with a public meeting attended by health activists, workers’ unions, community-based organisations and district delegations.

Memorandum 

A memorandum submitted to the Minister sought withdrawal of the privatisation of district hospitals under PPP models, enactment of a comprehensive Right to Health Act in Karnataka, and assurance of free and quality medicines in all government hospitals.

Bogesh Sollapura from Vijayapura referred to a 106-day agitation against the proposed privatisation of the Government Medical College hospital. “The Chief Minister’s intervention to halt it gave people hope that public hospitals must remain accessible to the poor,” he said, urging the government to abandon PPP models across districts.

Karibasappa, a grassroots worker, said PPP-based privatisation of eight district hospitals had increased costs and reduced access for vulnerable communities dependent on public institutions.

Right to Health Act

On the proposed legislation, Mr. Rao said the government completed the groundwork. “We have completed all the background work to bring in the Right to Health Act and soon we are going to submit it to the Chief Minister,” he said.

He addressed concerns over medicine shortage. “We have purchased the medicines, and the process is being streamlined. All government hospitals will have enough supplies shortly, and a normal supply of free medicines will be ensured within two months,” he said.

Participants cited a 2024 survey across 12 districts, which found patients collectively spent over ₹4 lakh on medicines, pointing to gaps in the public supply system. Sayyed Ishmail of the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd. (KSMSCL) said that over 60% of treatment expenditure was on medicines.

Gopal Dabade, ENT surgeon and president of DAF-K and Prasanna Saligram, public health researcher and SAA-K member said the mobilisation across 31 districts had strengthened public dialogue on health as a fundamental right and expressed hope for time-bound action by the government.