From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Nov 15: The number of people, who died due to lack of timely medical treatment on account of the strike by private medical doctors since Monday against the Karnataka Public Medical Establishments Bill, has mounted to 12 with the reported deaths of four more patients including three from Bagalakot and one from Tumakuru district till Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile, the agitating doctors have decided to intensify their protest against the KPME bill by indefinitely shutting down out-patient department (OPD) services and elective surgeries from Thursday, except emergency services, including dialysis and chemotherapy.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who addressed a meeting of the ruling Congress Legislature Party at the Belagavi Suvarna Vidhana Soundha on Wednesday morning, is understood to have promised to resolve the issue by personally speaking to Health and Family Welfare Minister K R Ramesh Kumar and has reportedly directed all the Congress legislators not to publicly air their views on the issue.

Vittal Bhanjatri, a 39-year-old resident of Bhajantri Galli in Mudhol of Bagalakot district, died due to heart-related ailments on Wednesday.

Bhajantri, a weaver by profession, could not get timely treatment as the OPD services at the private hospitals were shut following due to the doctors' strike.

Two patients in Banahatti town of Jamakhandi taluk, Bagalkot district, died as they could not get timely medical attention owing to the doctors' strike on Wednesday. The deceased have been identified as Erappa Mantur (43) and Liyakat Maldar (62).

According to reports from Tumakuru, Mohammad Pyaru (57) of Purus Colony in Tumakuru, a heart patient, died en route to Jayadeva Hospital in Bengaluru.

Pyaru complained of chest pain on Tuesday night. When all efforts by his family members to get him treated at private hospitals in Tumakuru proved futile, they decided to shift Pyaru to Jayadeva in Bengaluru.

Dr C Jayanna, president (elect) of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA), who spoke on behalf of the KPME Association, said they would not back down until the State Government conceded their demands.

He appealed to the public to cooperate with them and the KPME bill if passed in the legislative session, will ultimately and gradually result in the closure of all private hospitals in the State.

"We cater to over 78% of the population providing quality and world class care that is not available in government hospitals. If private hospitals are closed down, it will hit the public,” he said.

The Private medical doctors have been vehemently protesting against what they termed as the draconian provisions of the KPME bill and demanding that some of its contentions provisions like jail term for medical negligence, capping of fee for medical services and setting of redressal committee, should be diluted.

Prohibiting private hospitals from imposing additional charges over and above the rates fixed by the government “unless explained to and consented to by the patient,” the Bill envisages the setting up of a district and metropolitan grievance redressal committee to look into the complaints against or lapses on the part of the private hospitals.

The Bill mandates private hospitals to first hand over the dead body to a family and later collect the dues payable to it.
It also prohibits private hospitals from demanding advance payments from patients or the family in case of emergency treatments.

But the Health minister Ramesh Kumar has been strongly defending the bill and is contending that it is in the interest of the common man.

However, a section of the Congress legislators, who are in favour of diluting the bill are reportedly mounting pressure on the Chief Minister to fulfil the demands of the striking doctors.