BJP MP Tejasvi Surya unravels big scam in COVID-19 bed bookings by BBMP

Bengaluru, May 04: In a recent development, Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya on Tuesday unravelled a widespread corruption in allocating COVID-19 beds, in an embarrassment for his own party which is in power in the state that is led by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.

This development, came at a time when critical COVID-19 patients are dying in want of oxygen, ICU and ventilator beds. Moreover, the state is facing a massive shortage of medical oxygen. He said that the investigation by his office has unearthed a "dishonourable and an unholy nexus" of representatives of zonal helplines, BBMP officials and hospitals, which allegedly created a false scarcity of beds.

Speaking to reporters, Tejasvi spoke about the situation that distressed family and friends are facing. "Getting a bed for a COVID-19 patient is a nightmare. The bed booking software (portal) always shows that the beds are occupied." Surya was accompanied by Ravi Subramanya, his uncle and MLA of Basavanagudi.

"Upon investigation, it came to light that some Arogya Mitras deputed in private hospitals, BBMP helpline and bed booking system incharges as well as certain private hospitals have created artificial scarcity by resorting to a few unscrupulous methods and are consequently denying deserving patients much needed hospital care," the BJP MP said.

He said in as many 4000+ instances, the BBMP incharge books the bed in the name of an asymptomatic patient as soon as he or she is informed of a vacant bed. "Thereafter, the same bed is again allotted to another patient after a few hours - either based on monetary considerations or influence by authorities in other cases," Surya said.

Tejasvi's team has shared a document that lists at least 12 such cases. One such example is of Narasamma (name changed), who was booked in 3 hospitals and was not informed about even one. "Surprising fact is that she did not even need hospitalisation. She has recovered and is stable now," the note adds.

"How is it that a common man is made to run pillar to post to find one hospital bed for his family member? Are there really no hospital beds available for an entire day for patients? When each of the zones and the 108 helpline are producing daily reports of an average of 100 bookings done per day, who are the patients being admitted to hospitals and given COVID-19 treatment?" he asked further.

He also listed another instance where a patient was allegedly asked to pay money upfront for a bed. He alleged the police have arrested the tout after being tipped by his office.

This afternoon BBMP website showed zero beds available in Bengaluru under Govt Quota.

Right now, it is showing 1504 beds as available.

System is reforming. pic.twitter.com/j59Q8Cuk8X

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) May 4, 2021

Meanwhile, the BJP MP took to Twitter and shared the present number of beds vacancy in the hospitals.