Team Herald
PANJIM: Rejecting criticism over his admission in private hospital for COVID19 treatment, MGP’s Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar on Saturday said he has not claimed any reimbursement or burdened the State government.
He has also justified his admission in private hospital saying he did not want to block a bed in government hospital.
“With the blessings of God and all well wishers and efforts of all doctors and staff from Manipal Hospitals, I am recovering from COVID-19 infection,” he said.
He said, “While I am admitted in Manipal Hospitals, I read news reports of some politicians criticising me on my admission to private hospital. I would like to make a note that I along with my wife and my two family members got admitted in Manipal Hospitals on the advice of my brother who is doctor by profession”.
Dhavalikar said with many patients getting admitted in govt hospital and beds getting full, it was not appropriate for him to utilise these beds as same could be used by needy when required.
“In this COVID pandemic I have not utilised any govt machinery for my personal benefit. Even though I am rightfully entitled for all medical expenses as an MLA, in my tenure of 21 years I have tried not to burden government with my healthcare expenses and have not used a single rupee of govt to pay my medical bills and will also not burden them with my COVID-19 treatment,” he said.
He requested other MLAs who may have taken or taking treatment at private hospital not to burden the already cash strapped govt with their medical expenses.
“I pray to God for speedy recovery of all people who have been affected by COVID-19,” Dhavalikar said.
Interestingly, when Herald exposed the MLAs’ huge medical expenses last year, Dhavalikar was one of few politicians who had not availed the medical benefits from State government.
