KMC Clarifies on Not accepting Demonetized Currency from Minister Gowda
Mangaluru: On November 22, Union minister Sadananda Gowda’s brother breathed his last at the KMC hospital after a brief illness. Bhaskar Gowda, brother of DVS was suffering from liver complications and was admitted to the KMC hospital.
On November 22, Bhaskar Gowda’s condition suddenly went worse, without responding to treatment, he breathed his last.
During the payment, DVS paid demonetized currency, which the hospital authorities according to the rules set by the government refused.
When mangalorean.com contacted the KMC hospital authorities, they clarified saying, “Bhaskar Gowda was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition. Bhaskar was in the ICU and his condition was deteriorating day-by-day. all efforts were on to save his life, but unfortunately, even after the doctors doing their best, the patient breathed his last.
During the course of treatment, the patient’s party had paid an advance. On November 22, while taking the body of Bhaskar Gowda. The balance amount which was to be paid was being paid through the demonetized currency which according to the rules the hospital refused to accept. Later Minister Gowda paid the balance amount through cheque”.
Saghir Siddiqui, Unit Head, KMC Hospitals Mangaluru stated, “We offer our condolences to the family of Minister Sadananda Gowda. By not accepting the old currency notes as payment, we were only following the Government’s order wherein private hospitals are not allowed to accept demonetized currency unlike Government hospitals. We are bound by the central government’s guidelines (www.finmin.nic.in and www.rbi.org.in) and hence have provided the same in writing to Minister Gowda as well. At KMC Hospital, we strictly adhere to patient centricity and ethical practices and to ensure ease of patients in the current scenario, we are facilitating different modes of payment including accepting of debit/credit card/demand draft, electronic transfers and cash deposits.