Mangaluru Protest Brings Public Health Gaps Into Sharp Focus

Mangaluru: A citizens’ march in Karnataka’s coastal city has drawn attention to the growing strain on public health infrastructure, with residents calling for urgent upgrades to government hospitals and primary health centres.

Protesters flagged limited working hours, shortage of medical staff and inadequate facilities across several primary health centres. Many argued that these centres, which serve as the first point of contact for patients, are no longer equipped to handle rising patient loads. The demand to convert select PHCs into full fledged hospitals reflects both the pressure on existing systems and the lack of accessible secondary care.

The call for a government medical college in the region also featured prominently. Residents pointed out that the absence of a teaching hospital not only affects access to specialised care but also limits the availability of trained personnel in the long run.

The protest comes at a time when out of pocket healthcare expenditure continues to weigh heavily on households. With private care often unaffordable, gaps in public infrastructure are pushing patients into difficult choices between delayed treatment and financial strain.

What the Mangaluru march underscores is a broader national concern. Even as policy discourse focuses on insurance coverage and digital health, the foundational issues of staffing, infrastructure and service delivery at the primary level remain unresolved. Without addressing these, the promise of accessible healthcare risks remaining uneven across regions.