Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Jul 29: The strike call given by Indian Medical Association in protest against the decision of the central government to go ahead with the introduction of Indian Medical Commission (IMC) Bill evoked partial response in the state. The doctors had decided to keep the outpatient departments of private hospitals closed for 12 hours from 6 am on Saturday. In addition, private clinics and laboratories remained closed.
As people had prior knowledge about strike by private doctors, government hospitals experienced unusual rush. In some cases, patients had to go back home after visiting the clinics and hospitals and finding them closed. A few hospitals in several districts however extended services in outpatient departments on humanitarian grounds. As government hospitals too expected rush and had made advance preparations, the strike did not affect the people to the expected level, although there were many cases in which children, pregnant women and senior citizens faced problems.
Although outpatient departments in most of the private hospitals in Dakshina Kannada district did not function, these departments remained open in some hospitals like Father Muller Hospital, KMC, A J, Srinivas Hospital Mukka, K S Hegde Hospital at Deralakatte, Yenepoya Hospital etc. Kasturba Medical College Hospital at Manipal however ran its outpatient services as usual. Those needing emergency treatment got prompt attention. However, patients faced problem in getting outpatient services at Madikeri, Hubballi, Koppal, Ballari, Haveri, Gadag, Belagavi and other north Karnataka districts.
Strangely, most of the hospitals and clinics in Uttara Kannada and Kalaburagi functioned normally although the doctors here had supported the strike call. The doctors of these districts participated in the protest, sent memorandums to the government through deputy commissioners, and then attended their duties. In Mysuru, Chikkaballapur, Bengaluru, Kolar, Tumakuru, Ramanagara and some other districts too outpatient services were not affected.
Indian Medical Association Karnataka president, Dr H M Raveendra, said that the doctors are not opposing the new IMC amendment bill in its entirely but that there are certain defects in the bill. He said that the doctors agree that those found guilty should be punished, but they are opposed to the proposal to deactivate Indian Medical Council and bring a new commission in its place.