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The State government has agreed to make suitable changes to the amendments proposed to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act (KPMEA), but insisted that the interests of poor patients will be protected. The amendment Bill is to be tabled in the Assembly on Monday.
The doctors called off the strike after meeting Chief Minister Karnataka Siddaramaiah, Health Minister Ramesh Kumar and officials of the Health Department.
At the meeting, the talks revolved around issues that the private doctors had raised, including the price cap for various surgeries and treatments, increasing monetary penalty for unregistered establishments and even a jail term, and the patient’s rights charter (providing complete information about costs of various treatment and procedures, risks and benefits).
People privy to the talks said the government had agreed to drop the clause of appointing District Grievances Committees which was given powers to recommend strict action against erring doctors.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Siddaramaiah said: “The government was determined to move the Amendment Bill in this session and later introduce the Universal Health Scheme (UHS) clubbing all health schemes in the State into one. Karnataka will be the first state in India to introduce such comprehensive health scheme, which will benefit 1.4 crore households.”
Defending the Bill, Chief Minister said the common man needed good treatment. There is no intention to harass private doctors or the medical establishments. “But there is an element of fear in the minds of private doctors who went on strike and they came under stress. The government has cleared their doubts and now the Bill will go through.”
HN Ravindra, President IMA-Karnataka, said: “The government has catered to all our demands pertaining to amendments to KPME Act and we have called off the strike. If any deaths have happened due to strike, we will only own the moral responsibility for these deaths.”
The doctors were represented by Devi Shetty of Narayana Health, H Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman, Manipal Hospitals and other office-bearers of IMA-Karnataka.
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