Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Nov 12: On receiving assurance from the centre that its demands will be studied and implemented, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has postponed its 'satyagraha' movement which was scheduled to be held on November 16. This was revealed by Dr G K Bhat Sankabithilu, president of IMA, Mangaluru at the press club in the city on November 12.
The IMA had asked its members to keep their clinics closed on Monday November 16 as part of its National Protest Day. Addressing the media Dr Bhat said, "We have decided to postpone 'satyagraha' by six weeks in order to give time for the government to act. Since this matter is connected to many ministries a committee has been formed. This committee will be submitting the report to the government within six weeks. At a meeting held with the union health minister our various demands were discussed and we received a positive response. Thus we have decided to postpone the protest for now."
"The demands include introducing a central Act to control incidents of violence against doctors and introducing a cap on the compensation in medico-legal cases. Allopathic medicines should not be allowed to be prescribed by unani, ayurvedic and homeopathic doctors since there are chances that they can have adverse effects on a patient's health. According to clinal establishment act medical treatment through single treatment system can be very expensive. So necessary corrections need to be made. The amount of punishment in the pre-conception pre-natal diagnostic technique (PCPNDT) should be reconsidered. Changes should be made in the amount of punishment for example, if scanning records of patients are not maintained then doctors can be sent to jail. This punishment should be changed."
"IMA office bearers for the year 2015-16 will be chosen on Novemeber 21. IMA national president and padmashree awardee Dr A Maarthanda Pillai, state president Dr Prabhakar, Karnataka government doctors association president, Veerabadrayya and other digniteries will be present."
Dr Amrutha Bhandary and Dr Prithvi Shetty were present at the press meet.