Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said the government contemplated amendments to the Medical Establishments Act in the interest of poor people.
“The bill was referred to a joint House committee. It will come before the Assembly and then we will discuss it in the House,” he told presspersons here on Saturday after reviewing the progress of works related to Mahamastakabhisheka scheduled for February 2018.
“The government is contemplating restrictions on private nursing homes which charge exorbitantly to the poor. In some instances they do not allow bodies to be lifted for want of money. The government has thought of amendments to restrict such practices,” he said.
Answering a question, Mr. Siddaramaiah said there is a set procedure to discipline government doctors if they engaged in corrupt practices or dereliction of duty. “We can suspend them or dismiss them. But, as of now, there is no such control over private doctors.”
Reacting to BJP national president Amit Shah’s statement, Mr. Siddaramaiah said Mr. Shah lacked information on tax and allocation of funds. “In the 14th Finance Commission the State deserved 42 per cent of the taxes collected from it. In the last three years, as per the projections, the State should have got Rs. 95,000 crore. But so far there is a shortage of Rs.11,000 crore. Mr. Shah does not understand all these things,” he said.