Updated
Bengaluru, Nov 16 (Agencies): Protesting private medical doctors have called off their strike in Bengaluru on Thursday evening following an intervention by the High Court of Karnataka.
Besides, chief minister Siddaramaiah has invited the Indian Medical Association, private medical establishments and all stakeholders to discuss the Bill on Friday November 17 at 2 pm.
A day-long protest that witnessed the closure of out-patient services across the state is called off following a request by high court.
"Acting chief justice (H G Ramesh) has given us in writing, a letter asking us to call off the protest. We will be talking to chief minister (Siddaramaiah) and health minister (Ramesh Kumar ) on Friday to discuss the KPME Bill," said Dr R Ravindra, secretary, Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association.
Dr Ravindra added that, doctors fraternity honours the request by the court and that is the reason for calling of the strike.
Around 22,000 doctors in the city started the protest against the controversial Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Bill. Doctors had decided for an indefinite protest starting from Thursday will closure of out-patient services.
Earlier Report
Bengaluru: Doctors' strike against KPME Bill to end at CM's intervention?
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Nov 16: With Karnataka High Court appealing to the striking doctors, who have been up in arms and shirking work since Monday in protest against the proposed Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Bill 2017, to call off their agitation and resume duty and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as well as State Health and Family Welfare Minister K R Ramesh Kumar making similar appeals and promising to consult them on their grievances before introducing the Bill in the State Legislature, the prospects of a solution to the row that has resulted in at least 15 deaths due to lack of treatment appears bright.
Siddaramaiah and Ramesh Kumar are expected to meet at the Belagavi Suvarna Vidhana Soudha later on Thursday night in a bid to break the deadlock and probably announce the State Government’s decision on the floor of the legislature on Friday to facilitate calling off the strike.
Though the State Government has expressed its desire to break the impasse and hear the grievances of the doctors before going ahead with the KPME Bill, it is understood that no final decision on whether to defer or dilute some of the objectionable provisions is yet to be taken. Both the Chief Minister and the Health Minister, have indicated in the Belagavi session of the State Legislature that they have an open mind on the issue.
The issue came up before the Karnataka High Court on Thursday morning when a public interest litigation came up before a division bench headed by acting Chief Justice H G Ramesh and consisting of Justice P S Dinesh Kumar and the bench urged the striking doctors to take a decision on withdrawing the strike and resume duty on their own in view of the gravity of the situation of lack of adequate medical facilities to patients.
The High Court asked the State Advocate General to clarify the government’s stand on the issue by afternoon and when the hearing was resumed in the evening, the Advocate General informed the court that the State Government has an open mind on the issue and has already promised to consult the doctors to hear their grievances and introduce the bill after the discussions.
The division bench adjourned the hearing till Friday after the Advocate General’s assurance, and said it wanted the doctors being medical professionals with a duty to serve the sick to take a decision on their own. The High Court made it clear that it can pass appropriate orders on the issue but would like the doctors themselves call off the strike.
The issue came up for heated debate in the State Legislative Council, when the Chief Minister and Health Minister promised to talk to the striking doctors and hear their grievances.
However, BJP leaders S Suresh Kumar, Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, Appacchu Ranjan, K H Bopaiah and other members staged a protest in the morning in front of the Belagavi Survarna Vidhana Soudha demanding immediate steps to end the strike by private doctors in the State.