Private medical establishments remained closed in the district on Friday to register opposition to Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2017, resulting in enhancement in the flow of the patients in government hospitals.
Along with private hospitals, medical services at diagnostic centres and clinics were also suspended. In wake of the non-availability of services at private health establishments, patients thronged to government hospitals.
Raghunandan R., District Surgeon, told The Hindu that an average of 1,600 persons receive treatment as outpatients at McGann Hospital, a government hospital attached to Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences daily. Owing to the strike, more than 2,000 outpatients received treatment on Friday. Similarly, an average of 150 persons get admitted to the hospital daily against which the enrolment of in-patients on Friday was 190, he said.
Similar increase here
There was a similar increase in patients at primary health centres. M. Lokesh, Deputy Commissioner, visited PHCs in Tunga Nagar, Vidya Nagar and Bapuji Nagar localities in the city and spoke to the patients there.
As part of the protest, the doctors took out a procession from McGann Hospital to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Addressing the protest meet, B.R. Purushotham, president, Shivamogga Chapter,Indian Medical Association (IMA) said that in the name of regulating the functioning of private hospitals, the government was trying to curtail their freedom.
Ravish K.R., Honourary Secretary of IMA said the proposal in the Bill to punish the doctors for medical negligence is draconian and should be withdrawn. Apprehensions expressed by the medical fraternity with the Joint Select Committee on the provisions in the Bill on imposing a ceiling for fees charged for medical services offered at private health establishments and formation of district-level grievances committees have not been seriously considered, he said.
The protesters said the bill would exert unnecessary pressure on the doctors. Functionaries of IMA Shivamogga Chapter including P. Narayan, Mallesh Hulumani, K.R. Sridhar and Preethi Pai took part in the protest.
