Patients from Kasargod allowed into Dakshina Kannada district but not Mangaluru City
Mangaluru, April 09: Patients from Kasargod are allowed to Dakshina Kannada district for treatment but cannot go to the hospital of their choice in Mangaluru City.
As soon as the ambulance carrying the patient crosses the interstate border at Talapady, it will have to take a diversion to Derlakatte, situated outside the city, and get the patient admitted at Justice KS Hegde Hospital. Officials have taken all measures steps to ensure that the ambulance carrying the patients do not enter the City.
As COVID-19 cases increased in the nearby Kasargod district,
Karnataka had shut its borders. When the issue came before the Apex Court on Tuesday, the court was told that both the states- Karnataka and Kerala had agreed to a protocol of facilitating the free movement of patients for medical treatment at the interstate border at Talapady.
Following this only those emergency cases certified as ‘Non -COVID’ by the Kasargod medical officers were allowed to enter DK after fulfilling some conditions from Tuesday.
But the district administration has issued fresh orders allowing the patients to get treatment only at Justice K S Hegde Hospital at Derlakatte.
Sources said that this was done after considering the order issued by Mangaluru City Corporation Commissioner, S Ajit Kumar Hegde on April 2.
This was one of the rare order issued by the Commissioner of City Corporation.
By exercising his emergency powers provided under Section 64 (1)(b) read with Section 58(22) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act 1975, the Commissioner had banned the movement of vehicles carrying persons who are affected or are likely to have come in contact with COVID-19 or suspected to be suffering from any such or other contagious diseases from entering within the limits of Corporation of the City of Mangaluru.
According to legal experts, this is one of the supreme powers which a Commissioner of City Corporation has been provided under the KMC Act which can be exercised only under the emergency situation when he feels the threat of a contagious disease to the city.
This order is issued by the Commissioner considering ratification from the Health standing committee.
Experts opine this order issued by the Commissioner still stands good and thus has been taken into consideration by the district administration.
The result of the Commissioner’s order is that the patients from Kerala are allowed to enter the Dakshina Kannada district (in Karnataka) but not allowed to enter the Mangaluru City Corporation limits.
However, the patients are directed to take treatment at Justice KS Hegde Hospital situated outside the city limits.
Justice KS Hegde Hospital run by the Nitte group is one of the famous and sophisticated hospitals in Mangaluru. Apart from Mangaloreans, a good number of people from Kasargod and Uttara Kannada go to this hospital for treatment.
