Doctors protest Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act in Kalaburagi

Kalaburagi (Karnataka): A group of doctors from Karnataka were protesting the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act”>Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act 2017 in front of District Commissioner office in Kalaburagi on Friday.

The doctors were protesting against the proposed provision that includes levying fines, imprisonment of doctors and fixing charges for specific procedures among other clauses in the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (amendment) Bill 2017 that will be tabled soon.

As per the Karnataka Indian Medical Association (IMA), around 50,000 doctors from private hospitals, clinics and other medical establishments from the state will resume their duties on Saturday after 8 am.

While some private doctors have opposed the amendment by going on strike, numerous activists and government medical associations have extended support to the Bill.

A doctor in support of the amendment told ANI, “Across Karnataka today all private hospitals are on strike as the doctors are not treating the patients. The reason they are on strike is to oppose the state governments’ bill 2017.”

“This legislative is about regulating the private medical hospitals and not the doctors. Therefore, we urge the government to bring the amendment in the November session and request the Opposition to support it,” added the doctor. (ANI)