Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Belagavi, Nov 16 (DHNS): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said his government will not table the revised version of Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Bill, 2017, in the legislature without taking the private medical doctors into confidence.

Replying on the issue in the Legislative Council, he said he will hold a meeting with ministers, including Health Minister K R Ramesh, today evening and finalise the government's stand on various issues raised by the doctors. The decision on tabling the revised Bill will be taken only after consulting the doctors, he added.

Photos from Udupi - rush in government hospitals

The doctors are staging protest against the Bill despite the government's assurance that it will not take unilateral decision in this regard. "There was no need for them (doctors) to stage protest. The Bill (revised version) has not been finalised, let alone tabling it in the legislature. I wonder why the doctors are protesting. I believe they are assuming a lot of things," he stated, urging them to withdraw the protest.

He, however, maintained that the Bill is in the interest of the poor.