Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)
With Inputs from Media Release

Udupi, Nov 1: “The Udupi-Karavali unit of the India Medical Association (IMA) has called for a voluntary bandh of all private hospitals and private clinics on November 3 in support to the statewide IMA members’ strike against implementation of Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in assembly in November,” said Dr Y Sudarshan Rao, president of IMA Udupi-Karavali unit.

Addressing media on Tuesday, October 31 held at press club Brahmagiri here, Sudarshan said, “On November 3, all the private clinics and hospitals will be closed from morning 6 am to evening 6 pm. Service will be available for in-patients only. For the emergency purpose KMC hospital, Manipal will provide service. Nearly 80,000 physicians work across the state. They have not communicated their support so far.”

“Government of Karnataka is planning to present KPME Act amendment in the assembly in November. This act has been presented already once and had objections of members of assembly, doctors and many organizations. Hence it was referred to joint committee. It is being tabled again in assembly,” he added.

He further informed Indian Medical Association’s important objections which were as follows:

• Reducing the term of registrations to three years from existing five years. It has no logical basis and increases corruption and promotes licenceraj.
• Adding a charter called as 'Patients charter' which is improperly defined and creating confusion. It will surely spoil patient doctor relationship. Some of the clauses in this charter are funny also.
• We are already answerable to medical council, district registration authority, consumer court and civil as well as criminal court. There is no justification to add on more investigating agency called 'District Redressal Forum', which has powers of civil court when so many constitutionally formed institutions are already are to address patients grievances.
• Fixation of 'fee', structure, giving prior 'estimates' before treatment and handing over of the dead body without receiving dues will effect day to day functioning of the private institutions. They will affect speedy and timely treatment of patients. Such provisions in the act will add to increasing the communication gap between patient and doctor. Hence this will affect the quality of treatment.
• Heavy penalties of lacs of rupees and jail terms of five years has been proposed for simple irregularities which is totally unfair and doctors will have to work under threat when viewed overall, the amendments proposed are going to damage the health system maintained by the private institutions. We are sure that improperly defined clauses, contradicting rules and interference in day to day working of doctors certainly may take the life of many patients. This appears that these clauses are defined by an inexperienced person who does not know about the day to day functioning of private medical system. Many of our members are of the view of quitting the medical profession if these proposed amendments are imposed.

Dr K Suresh Shenoy, secretary, Indian Medical Association, Udupi-Karavali unit was also present.