Karwar/Sirsi: BJP and Congress continued their barb against each other over the setting up of a super speciality hospital in Uttara Kannada district here on Wednesday.

While BJP’s District Unit Spokesperson Nagaraj Nayak said the setting up of a super speciality hospital in the district is very essential, and the BJP government in State has given priority to set up here though the successive governments in the past had neglected it over the last several decades.

Speaking to media persons in Karwar on Wednesday, he said several people had staged protests earlier seeking a super speciality hospital in the district. The situation is such that for every medical emergency the people of the district have to either go to Manipal, Mangaluru, Panji or Hubballi.

There have been several incidents of people dying on their way to the hospital. “This situation was the same even before the BJP government came to power in State. However, this government is responding to the demands,” he said.

He claimed that all the elected representatives have been pressurising the government for the super speciality hospital. Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, District In-charge Minister Kota Srinivas Poojari, Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar, MLAs and leaders have been pressuring the government in this regard. They have also held meetings with Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar. “We are confident that a fully-fledged hospital will be set up here,” he said.

Nagaraj said setting up of super speciality hospital is not a one-day affair; it requires 400 doctors, 2,000 medical staff and other facilities. The government is making preparation for this, he said.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Vice President Ivan D’Souza countered the BJP by stating that the State government is only doing drama regarding the establishment of a super speciality hospital.

“If the government is committed, it is possible to improve the health sector the district in just ten days,” he said while speaking to media persons in Sirsi.

“Even after two years of coming to power, BJP MLAs have not tried to improve the health sector in Uttara Kannada. With just 180 days left for the assembly elections, the BJP leaders are playing with the sentiments of the people by making a false statements.