Doctors Stir: Govt will take call on medical establishments law only after talks, says Siddaramaiah
, ET Bureau|
Nov 03, 2017, 08.16 PM IST
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said it is not right on the part of private doctors to shut OPD services and clinics across the state when discussions are still on in respect of amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Act.
The CM has pointed out that the strike, that was observed on Friday, was totally unnecessary as doctors were already in discussion with the government. “We have brought in a Bill and it has gone to the Joint Select Committee and will be discussed in the Assembly too,” the CM said, according to an official press release.
Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Ajay Seth said the state health department, on the directions of the CM had already sent a directive to doctors in government hospitals all over the state to be present through the day and attend to patients. They were also told to ensure that medicines, especially life-saving ones, were stocked adequately.
“All government hospitals in the state worked at full strength today and registered a higher number of OPD cases than on normal days,” Seth said.
“As for the amendments to the Act, there is an information asymmetry that the government is trying to address as the establishments know everything and patients’ very little,” he added.
The doctors’ and private medical establishments’ apprehension about the Bill are unfounded. An expert committee will consult all stakeholders and recommend the standards for medical establishments and prices for different treatments and procedures. Thereafter, the government will publish draft rates and give opportunity for suggestions before finalizing the rates. No unilateral decision will be taken, Seth said.
The government is all for protection of patients’ interests and orderly growth of medical services, Seth added.
Meanwhile, there were reports from across the state on how government doctors and hospitals intervened to help patients who were made to run from one private hospital to another.
In Bengaluru, a patient with severe breathing problems reached a private hospital in an auto rickshaw. But as she was not attended to by anyone, she took another auto and reached nearby Victoria Hospital where she was immediately attended to by experts.
The CM has pointed out that the strike, that was observed on Friday, was totally unnecessary as doctors were already in discussion with the government. “We have brought in a Bill and it has gone to the Joint Select Committee and will be discussed in the Assembly too,” the CM said, according to an official press release.
Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Ajay Seth said the state health department, on the directions of the CM had already sent a directive to doctors in government hospitals all over the state to be present through the day and attend to patients. They were also told to ensure that medicines, especially life-saving ones, were stocked adequately.
“All government hospitals in the state worked at full strength today and registered a higher number of OPD cases than on normal days,” Seth said.
“As for the amendments to the Act, there is an information asymmetry that the government is trying to address as the establishments know everything and patients’ very little,” he added.
The doctors’ and private medical establishments’ apprehension about the Bill are unfounded. An expert committee will consult all stakeholders and recommend the standards for medical establishments and prices for different treatments and procedures. Thereafter, the government will publish draft rates and give opportunity for suggestions before finalizing the rates. No unilateral decision will be taken, Seth said.
The government is all for protection of patients’ interests and orderly growth of medical services, Seth added.
Meanwhile, there were reports from across the state on how government doctors and hospitals intervened to help patients who were made to run from one private hospital to another.
In Bengaluru, a patient with severe breathing problems reached a private hospital in an auto rickshaw. But as she was not attended to by anyone, she took another auto and reached nearby Victoria Hospital where she was immediately attended to by experts.
