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An independent regulatory body to oversee private and government doctors and hospitals will be constituted shortly, Karnataka Minister for Health and Family Welfare KR Ramesh Kumar has said.
Replying to the discussion on Wednesday on the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill (KPME), 2017, which was tabled in the State Assembly on Tuesday, Ramesh Kumar said the regulatory body will be headed by a judge and a separate Bill to this effect will be tabled in the next legislative session in January.
‘No uniformity’
The Minister said that at present there was no uniformity on charges for medical services in the State. “A stent implant costs just ₹55,000 at the government-owned Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research Hospital, while private medical establishments charge ₹2.5 lakh for it.”
“Looking at the huge disparity in charges for medical services, the government has decided to constitute a committee of health experts from both government and private sectors,” he added.
He assured the legislators that all stakeholders would be taken into confidence when it comes to fixing of charges for medical services and a uniform package of rates would be fixed for various treatment and procedures under the health insurance schemes of the State government.
The Minister said the KPME Bill stipulates private hospitals not to insist on advance payment in case of emergencies, display of Patient’s Charter and Private Medical Establishment’s Charter and handover, in the event of death of a patient, the body immediately without insisting on payment of the dues.
Assurance to doctors
Allaying the fears of private doctors and legislators, the Health Minister said fake doctors would be dealt with sternly with three years’ rigorous imprisonment.
The House adopted the KPME Bill 2017 with voice vote.
The amendment to the KPME Act of 2007 was strongly opposed by the private doctors and paramedics in the State. They had resorted to a five-day stir.
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