Despite protest, Karnataka government to go ahead with medical bill

Despite vehement opposition from private medical establishments, which brought the outpatient services in the state to a stall in a day-long bandh on November 3, the state government is pushing ahead
The doctors in Karnataka are demanding the rollback of the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Bill 2017, which seeks uniformity in rates, transparency and accountability. (Photo: EPS | P Ravindra Babu)
The doctors in Karnataka are demanding the rollback of the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Bill 2017, which seeks uniformity in rates, transparency and accountability. (Photo: EPS | P Ravindra Babu)

BENGALURU: Despite vehement opposition from private medical establishments, which brought the outpatient services in the state to a stall in a day-long bandh on November 3, the state government is pushing ahead with the proposed amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2017.

In a press statement on Tuesday, Health Minister KR Ramesh Kumar, for the first time since the large-scale protests, put to rest apprehensions raised by private medical establishments with regard to the bill and said their fears are unfounded.

Ahead of the winter session of the state legislature scheduled to begin on November 13, on which day the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has given a Belagavi Chalo call where 25,000 doctors are expected to protest, the health minister’s statement makes it clear that nothing much has changed since the bill was tabled in June and thereafter examined by the Joint Select Committee of the State Legislature. IMA’s demands have not been considered.

The minister said in the statement, “The proposed Amendment Bill has provisions which seek to balance rights and obligations of patients as well as that of private medical establishments. The medical establishments know a lot while the patients know very little. For addressing this information asymmetry, intervention by the State through appropriate regulations is necessary.”

IMA president HN Ravindra, “Why is the grievance redressal committee required when the health minister is saying it is the judicial magistrate who will convict the doctor? Also, imprisonment has been increased from 1 year to 3 years though the minister has maintained that they have not changed the imprisonment provision.” 

SOME REVISIONS IN BILL

No pvt clinical labs near govt hospitals
Dispose of patient plaints in 45 days
Scope of fixing cost of treatment procedures and hospital charges​ refined​
Courts can’t take cognisance of offence, except in some cases

Health minister clarifies govt position on med bill

Bengaluru: Notwithstanding vehement opposition from private medical establishments, the state government is pushing ahead with the proposed amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2017. Health minister K R Ramesh Kumar clarified on some aspects of the proposed bill in a press statement on Tuesday. 

GOVT position ON BILL

Response of the government on apprehensions raised by private medical establishments:
Registration procedure and mechanism are being simplified
A grievance redressal committee at district level to hear patient plaints within 45 days as the existing mechanism of consumer courts take a very long time
Role of expert committee refined to set standards and for different types of treatments, procedures
Expert committee comprising representatives of private and government hospitals and doctors practising independently are mandated to discuss cost of treatment procedures and hospital charges. They will be fixed by the government only after inviting objections from private hospitals.
The patients’ charter and establishment charter lay down rights and obligations of both, and seek to balance their interests.
Only monetary penalties are being enhanced. Imprisonment provision has not been changed. The penalties and punishment are only based on conviction by a judicial magistrate. The medical establishments can seek services of a legal professional at that stage

CHANGES IN BILL
Amendment Bill has been refined further in following aspects:
No private clinical labs will be allowed near government hospitals
If the registration authority does not take a decision within three months from the date of receiving the application, registration will be granted
Grievances have to be disposed within 45 days
Scope of fixing cost of treatment procedures and hospital charges refined
Provision to publish draft cost of treatment and hospital charges, inviting objections, and prescribing the same adherence by the private medical establishments
Except on written complaint by registration authorities, courts cannot take cognisance of offence

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