Doctors in Karnataka begin indefinite strike in private hospitals, healthcare system severely affected
Bengaluru, Nov 16 (IBNS) : Doctors in private medical establishments across Karnataka began on Thursday an indefinite strike in protest against the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendments) Bill resulting in a crisis in the state's healthcare system, media reports said.
Although the private doctors had said that they would take up emergencies, dialysis and chemotherapy services, The Hindu reported that some hospitals are refusing the life-saving dialysis too for needy patients.
Most patients who visited private hospitals in Bengaluru were shocked to see “no OPD” boards in front of the hospitals, several others directly went to government hospitals, the report sid..
The Karnataka government is all set to table and pass the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act (KPMEA), 2017 for amendments in the Winter Session of the Legislative Assembly, which the doctors are vehemently opposed to.
The proposed amendments in the KPME Act will make hospitals accountable for medical negligence and the doctors were opposing it.
Alleging the proposed KPME Act amendments as “detrimental” to the medical profession, doctors announced complete shutdown of the out-patient services.
Private hospitals' indefinite strike has been called demanding the dropping of at least four contentious proposals in the amendment bill.
The protest started on Monday with the doctors of Private Hospitals Association and Indian Medical Association (IMA) protesting against the proposed KPME Act.
More than 25,000 doctors from various private medical hospitals and health care assembled in Belagavi (formerly Belgaum).
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