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Mangaluru: KPME Act - Doctors to hold 'Belagavi Chalo' protest against govt on Nov 13

  •   Sat, Nov 11 2017 01:34:24 PM

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Nov 11: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) will strongly oppose the proposed amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment (KPME) Act, said Dr K R Kamath, president of IMA Mangaluru.

Addressing a press meet here on Saturday November 11, Dr K R Kamath said, "Doctors across the state will hold protest during the Legislative Assembly session in Belagavi on November 13 and demand the enforcement of the reccommendations of the government-appointed Justice Vikramajit Sen Commission. If our demands are not met, we will stage protest from November 14 until we succeed.

"The Indian Medical Association has 174 branches across the state and doctors from all the branches will take part in the 'Belagavi Chalo' protest. We have made arrangements for emergency treatment on November 13t, but if our demands are not fulfilled then there will be inconvenience to patients.

"This Act will damage the healthcare system of Karnataka. This step is not right," he added.

Convenor of IMA Mangalore Annayya Kulal, Dr G K Bhat and Sacchidananda Rai were present.

According to the proposed amendments to the KPME Act, the state government will fix the price of every treatment/procedure in private hospitals and clinics. The amendments, among others, aim to check overpricing by private hospitals. According to the Act, the total cost of treatment should not exceed the initial estimate. However, doctors say it would damage the healthcare system as charges for treatment cannot be fixed at the initial stage of treatment especially if patients develop complications, and it would also hamper provision of quality healthcare as hospitals may not invest in high-end technology.
  

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Comment on this article

  • Ivar, Mangalore

    Sun, Nov 12 2017

    Let us bring an efficient government in the next elections. The health ministry should be handled by a tough guy to bring in major changes in public health department. The facilities in Government hospitals should be improved. The doctors should be offered a hefty salary with no private practice. The public health offers in government hospitals should make no one to turn to private hospitals.

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  • Vincent Rodrigues, Bengaluru/Katapadi

    Sun, Nov 12 2017

    The department and the government need to work to uplift the services in the government hospitals and ensure good treatment to the deserving

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  • Raman, MANIPAL

    Sat, Nov 11 2017

    I feel if the Government builds good hospitals then there is no need for private hospitals. These days private hospitals only think of making money and nothing else. Medicine and healthcare is an industry now and there is no real concern for the poor patient who often suffers, Doctors must be willing to work for the poor and help the society, I really feel sad for the public. I am sure Government will come up with good hospitals which will slowly finish all the private hospitals and healthcare in Karnataka will be free and universal. I feel Ramesh the health minister is making very proactive steps towards health care of the state Soon other states also will follow the suits and private practice will end in India

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  • bala, urwa

    Sat, Nov 11 2017

    Ramesh kumar mianister should be given free hand and customer (patient ) friendly law should be implemented.Descrinimation of poor patients has to full stop soon .

    DisAgree [5] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Unknown, Mangalore

    Sat, Nov 11 2017

    The end of private healthcare system in Karnataka

    The government of Karnataka is about to implement the KPME act to control the doctors in the state, in the upcoming assembly session. It’s all handi work of the health minister Mr Ramesh, who has a personal grudge against all doctors in the state.
    Most common people are being misled in to believing that this is a good bill for the people and will benefit them. Without an understanding in to what exactly is happening, people are lauding the effort by the government. The doctors have already had several protests and are on the verge of an indefinite strike. The entire private medical system is on the verge of collapse.
    I’m writing this just to give you a fair idea as to what’s happening.
    Let’s start with a plate of idli sambar. A plate of idli sambar costs ₹5 in a roadside shop, ₹10 in Indira canteen, ₹20 in a small Hotel , ₹ 50 in a big restaurant, ₹ 100 in a Ac restaurant in Bangalore and may be say ₹ 300 plus taxes at any 5 star Hotel. Now if the government passes a resolution saying all these establishments have to sell a plate of idli sambar at ₹5 irrespective of the type of establishment, failing which action will be taken against the establishments. Add to that, if the idli sambar doesn’t taste good, and the customer is not satisfied, the person selling the idli sambar will be sent to jail and a fine ranging from 30,000 to a few lakhs. What will the establishments do?? Do you think a 5 star hotel will be able to sell idli sambar at ₹5?? They will eventually close down as they will not have revenue to run the place.
    This is what the bill aims to do to the private medical practitioners. The government wants to fix the prices of all services, which is next to impossible for the private establishments to survive.
    A 10th grade fail plumber who comes home to change a leaking tap, or a small job charges around ₹300 as his charges, cost of spares etc and if the house is far off he will put his travel charges as well. And you expect someone who has worked hard all his way to graduation and then post graduation and other specialisation and put in almost 15 years learning his skill to charge ₹50 as consultation and surgeries at a pittance??
    Sincere advise to the government is to first get the government hospital mess right, appoint all positions vacant for specialists and then see the change. They can’t change their own system but want to control the professionals who are doing a good job, without any aid from the government and also paying all kinds of charges levied by the Govt like the pollution board charges, medical waste disposal, registration of clinics every now and then by paying the fees, the rent, overheads etc.
    people, please understand, doctors are not monsters. We are giving top notch healthcare in the whole world at 1/10th of the price anywhere in the developed world. The health system in our country is run by private practitioners amounting to almost 70%. So if this draconian law is going to be implemented, I can assure most doctors will be forced to change profession!! The health care system will collapse!!

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  • G R PRABHUJI, Mangalore

    Sat, Nov 11 2017

    Why can't they close full hospital on 13th . Instead of going to Belagavi. I don't think their problems will solve. Results will be more patients will suffer and die.

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  • tom cat, mumbai , manglore

    Sat, Nov 11 2017

    In england when doctors struck work for a month there were less people dead. That means :.....

    DisAgree [7] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dilip RV, Mangalore

    Sat, Nov 11 2017

    Sir, could you please enlighten us whether, on your previous strike on November 3rd 2017, casualty/emergency services were functioning at all hospitals? I was told by few people that it was not.
    If we are not mistaken, only OPD services were supposed to be closed, and not emergency services.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Mangaluru: KPME Act - Doctors to hold 'Belagavi Chalo' protest against govt on Nov 13



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