Mohammed Yousuf

Bengaluru, 21 July

One of the first acts of Dinesh Gundu Rao, after he took charge as health and family welfare minister in 2023, was to review the conditions of state-run dialysis centres and the process in which tenders were issued. He felt the rates were high and called for fresh tenders. Son of Karnataka's former chief minister R Gundu Rao, he has been representing Gandhinagar constituency in Bengaluru since 1999. In an interview with Salar News, Rao takes pride that Karnataka is the first state to have a proper policy on the ‘Right To Die With Dignity’.

1. What prompted you to implement the Supreme Court's 2018 verdict on the ‘Right To Die With Dignity’. How different is Karnataka's model from Kerala?

This was an issue that was brought to our notice by some organisations. When we looked at it, we realised its importance. The Supreme Court had given guidelines, but they had not been implemented across the country. Kerala, to some extent, had done something such as the process of the legal form of euthanasia. We came out with a proper policy after discussing with the various stakeholders and Karnataka was the first in the country to come out with the Advanced Medical Directive, which when a person is healthy, he can make a medical or living will on what actions should be taken if he is no longer to take decisions because of illness or incapacity. The second aspect is when someone is terminally ill, a process has been laid out, where the family and the medical experts can make a decision on how to end the person's life.

2. While the Karnataka government's decision on ‘Right To Die With Dignity’ and the Advance Medical Directive has been hailed, it has also raised ethical and legal challenges as the euthanasia issue remains controversial with concerns about the potential for misuse or undue influence on vulnerable patients?

No, it's a watertight process. There's a committee in the hospital which has to certify and another panel of medical experts who will have to approve. It cannot just be that someone can just simply takes a decision. It's a multiple-layered process which ensures that the decision is taken after everybody is on board and is certified. There's no scope for manipulation.

3. Your department took the initiative of banning use of artificial colours in cotton candy, gobi manchurian and kebab, and use of plastic sheets in steaming idlis. Now, it has sought the Centre's intervention in setting national guidelines for tattooing. Did you face any hurdles?

We didn't face any problem. We brought awareness among people that these preparations are harmful. They were using plastic sheets to steam idlis. Our food safety department, I think after a long time, seemed to be effective in its functioning. Regarding tattoos, the department found that 22 types of metals were being used in the tattooing ink and we sought the Centre's intervention for framing guidelines to ban it. People went to court, but the judiciary stood by us. We have also amended the Tobacco Prohibition Act. Some people tried to put pressure, but we were clear in our stand. Most of the opposition was behind the curtains. We did not oblige anyone, and they also attempted to curb it through the legal process, but we won the case.

4. You have advocated mandating electric vehicles for public transport in Bengaluru citing air pollution, as conventional fuel was causing air pollution leading to health issues. Is there any data with the health department on Bengaluru's Air Quality Index?

Yes. That's basically to promote clean energy. We requested the transport department to take steps on these lines as we cannot issue orders and 60 per cent of the pollution is because of conventional vehicles. The internal combustion engines of all the petrol and diesel vehicles are one of the main causes for pollution and Bengaluru should not become like New Delhi.

5. How do you assess the performance of hospitals that come under your department? What are your plans to improve them?

Ours is a public health system and we have hospitals at the district and taluk levels, community and primary health centres. It's a vast network and there are problems. Karnataka, when compared to hospitals in the country, is much better, but states such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala are better than us. We are working on various aspects of how to improve services, availability of drugs and ensure that doctors are present.

6. How important is Artificial Intelligence and technology in the health field?

Technology and data management are important. We are starting health management information system. It is under a trial process in four districts right now. In a couple of months, we are finalising the process to have data of patients so that they do not have to carry their medical records such as X-rays, which can be accessed online. We are using artificial intelligence in diagnosis.

7. As minister in charge of Dakshina Kannada district, you accused the fringe elements of exploiting incidents of violence for political gain. Who is gaining from these killings?

There are people on all sides, all sections and organisations who indulge in this kind of activity. There are extreme parties like the BJP or the Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and under them, fringe organisations such as Bajrang Dal are there. They are the ones who cause all the problems. Whatever ideology one believes in, hate speeches and inciting people will not be allowed.

8. How is the State government's Shuchi-Nanna Maitri (menstrual cup programme) doing?

This programme was there earlier too, but had been discontinued in the last four or five years. We have revived it. The response has been good and we want girls to start using menstrual cups as it has less impact on the environment, is hygienic and also practical. We have started in two districts this year and plan to expand it.

9. You started counselling to ensure transparency in transfers, how is it working?

Counselling was started to ensure postings are done based on the candidates' criteria and not due to influence. For the first time, 5,000 plus transfers were done through counselling. The transfers through counselling are choice-based.

10. Your tenure as KPCC President from 2018 to 2020 was not an easy one. There was a change of government and you also resigned in December 2019 after the party lost in the Assembly bypolls. How difficult was it?

It was a difficult period as the JD(S)-Congress government fell due to defections and in the by-elections held later to seats vacated by the defectors, my party lost. I took moral responsibility for the poor performance in the bypolls and resigned.

11. You have a legacy of being a former chief minister's son, do you plan to groom anyone from your family as your political heir?

No such plans for the present. But I cannot say what will happen in the future. Presently, there is nobody in the family who seems to be interested in joining politics.

12. Which project has given you satisfaction as Health Minister?

I don't know if we've done many programmes. I think anything that we do, it's with passion. There's one project that worked very well - Puneet Hrudaya Jyothi scheme, which has saved over 200 lives from cardiac arrest. Under the scheme free injections and medicines are being given. This has given me a lot of happiness.

Watch the interview on Salar Youtube channel @dailysalardigital

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5baq1Wr3wF8