‘Diluted’ private hospitals Bill to be tabled in both Houses today

BENGALURU: The Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Amendment Bill, diluted to address the concerns of the private medical practitioners and medical establishments, will be introduced in both the Houses of the state legislature today.

The much-debated Bill in its earlier version had invited the wrath of private practitioners leading to a nearly week-long strike which resulted in the death of many patients in the state. The state government was compelled to accept the demand of the striking doctors to soften some of the clauses of the Bill to end the strike.

The ‘diluted’ Bill is said to have dropped the provision for imprisonment of doctors for violation of provisions and also removed the clause on setting up of an Appellate Authority to act on complaints from the patients against medical establishments.

The ambit of the Bill is said to have been curtailed even on the issue of fixing the charges for various procedures. The clause on compulsory display of a board of rates for various medical services at the entrance of the establishments would remain.