I cannot tell you what Hadiya told me: NCW chairperson

Bengaluru, Apr 22: In order to infuse confidence among people to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Karnataka government on Wednesday launched a helpline 'Apthamitra' with an exclusive toll free number and a mobile app, aimed at providing required medical advice and guidance for those in need.

The help line and app was launched by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in the presence of senior Ministers and officials of the department.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Yediyurappa said that the help line was need at this crucial juncture. “If anyone has symptoms of Coronavirus, they can call the helpline from their home, get medical advice or assistance and get their doubts cleared. 

People who call to know the symptoms, an expert team of doctors will advice on what to do next.”

Mangaluru, May 23: Criticising the Karnataka government's fresh protocol for management of Covid-19 as expensive, a prominent physician in the city has demanded its withdrawal.

According to Dr B Srinivas Kakkilaya, the protocol released by the Health and Family Welfare Department on May 15 enlists unnecessary and unconfirmed tests and treatments. 

The protocol has classified Covid-19 cases into three categories and has provided for hospitalisation of all three categories of patients, from asymptomatic to the most severely ill.

In a letter to the government, Dr Kakkilaya said: "The protocol suggests several investigations to be done right on the day of admission, including blood counts, liver and renal function tests, chest X Ray, ECG, CT scan of the chest, and other special investigations, all of which, if done, will cost Rs 25,000 per patient."

"In the coming days when lakhs of patients are likely to be infected with SARS CoV2, is it necessary and feasible to hospitalise and test all these patients at Rs 25,000 per person," he questioned.

The treatment options suggested in the protocol are also surprising, he pointed out. "The protocol recommends choloroquine, azithromycin, oseltamivir, zinc and vitamin C for all patients, from asymptomatic to the severely ill, and also anti coagulant injections for many patients. All these would cost at least Rs 5,000 per patient. For severe cases of Covid-19, many unproven and experimental treatments have been suggested, which are very expensive and highly questionable," Dr Kakkilaya notes.

Therefore, this protocol, he asserted was not evidence based and likely to do more harm than good. He said these unnecessarily expensive tests and allowing private companies to conduct trials on Covid-19 patients is likely to be misused by vested interests and must be immediately withdrawn, and instead, a protocol that is evidence-based, simple and avoiding unnecessary expenses, must be developed.

Mangaluru, Feb 14: Police have submitted over 50 videos in a pen drive to Udupi Deputy Commissioner G Jagadeesha as evidence to violent protests that led to police firing on December 19 in which Jaleel and Nausheen died.

ACP and police nodal officer Belliyappa submitted a pen drive consisting over 50 video clips including CCTV footage. 

The police earlier had submitted 20 digital video recorder (DVR) before the court and an acknowledgement of the same was produced before the Magistrate.

Hearing on video evidence will be held at High Court on February 24.