Private Doctors in Karnataka to Continue with Protests Against KPME Bill 2017

Team Udayavani, Nov 11, 2017, 12:35 PM IST

Bengaluru: Private doctors in Karnataka have decided to continue with their present agitation against proposed Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2017 even if Karnataka state government assured physicians that it is ready to protect the interest doctors and private hospitals in the state.

The doctors are scheduled to hold Belagavi Chalo rally on November 13 to register their protest in front of Survarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi where winter session of the state legislature is scheduled next week. The doctor in a communication have stated that they will continue with their current protest programmes until the government withdraws some of regulations in the proposed bill to be tabled in the winter session of the legislature in Belagavi.  

The representatives of Indian Medical Association (IMA) unit in Karnataka said, as many as 20,000 doctors from various parts of the state will siege Suvarna Soudha at around 09.00 AM on November 13 as part of the current protest programmes. There are four elements in the bill which may adversely impact the future of the doctors, clinics and hospitals. The elements include,  a proposal for a district level complaints redressal cell, interference of the government in fixing medical bills including consultation fee, government’s decision to threat doctors as accused in medical negligence cases, prison sentence against the doctors for severe mistakes committed by them during medical treatment, the doctors said.

Some of the elements in the proposed amendment bill adversely impact the private hospitals and could reduce their income which finally spoils the quality of medical services being provided by them, the doctors stated.