Mangaluru: District Congress Covid-19 helpline team met Deputy Commissioner Dr Rajendra K V and discussed at length about Covid-19 treatments.

The delegation alleged that patients faced inconveniences while undergoing treatment at private medical college hospitals.

The district in-charge minister’s statement on availing free treatment even without Aadhaar card was not followed in hospitals. The shortage of ventilators was the main reason behind the increase in death rate, they added.

Private medical colleges and hospitals are not imparting free treatment without Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka cards.

“A few hospitals were denying treatment despite patients possessing Ayushman health cards,” the delegation charged and added that patients availing treatment in private hospitals were slapped with hefty bills.

Treatment also should be given to non-Covid patients in Wenlock Hospital, they demanded.

Measures should be initiated to distribute medicines through Asha workers for those who are undergoing treatment in home isolation.

The deputy commissioner, in turn, promised to look into the issues and solve the problems at the earliest.

The delegation also appealed to the deputy commissioner to make an alternative arrangement or allow fruit and vegetable vendors to carry out business in the Central Market.

There are 106 retail traders inside the Central Market, 241 traders were carrying out business in the open yard in the market. The lives of labourers and hamalis who were depending on the Central Market for livelihood are in distress.

Congress Covid helpline convener Ivan D’Souza, MLA U T Khader and others were part of the delegation.