Council okays Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Bill after detailed debate
BELAGAVI: The Legislative Council on Thursday passed the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2017 after a lively discussion with Health Minister K R Ramesh Kumar promising the members to clear any ambiguities in the Bill through due diligence while framing the rules for the Act.
As the bill was cleared in the Assembly on Wednesday amid much speculation, it came for discussion in the Upper House on Thursday. Members, cutting across party lines, welcomed the minister’s concern behind bringing amendments to the existing Act, but JD(S) members Srikantaswamy found no remarkable change in the bill, except for tweaking of a few clauses.
Reacting to BJP member Ramchandra Gowda’s jibe terming the bill as “toothless snake”, Ramesh Kumar said it was not a snake but a rope to tie those who go out of control. He however stated that if any death had happened due to confrontation between the government and the striking doctors, he will apologise because every life is precious.
Pointing out lacunas in the Bill, Congress member V S Ugrappa expressed reservation over entrusting the powers of a civil court to the Registration and Grievances Redressal Authority (RGRA) headed by the Deputy Commissioner, for trying a case under the Code of Civil Procedures (CPC), as they have least knowledge of it. The minister clarified that since DCs enjoy magisterial powers, they are well-versed with CrPC.
The minister rejected Ugrappa’s suggestion to reduce the maximum time for complaint disposal by a summary trial to 30 days against 90 days mentioned in the Bill. Ramesh Kumar also refuted his (Ugrappa) charge that doing away with jail term in the Bill will encourage quackery. Quackery will continue to attract imprisonment, the minister added.
Regarding the term of the nominated RGRA members, Ramesh Kumar said it will be well defined while framing the rule. The minister also agreed to take note of a suggestion of dividing larger cities like Bengaluru as the DCs in such areas are already under intense work pressure.
Agreeing to make changes in Clause 6 of Secton 11 on handing over of the body in the event of the death of patients, he said, the words “after completing required procedure” will be added.
All the 1.4 crore families in the state will be ensured health security and this will be first of its kind in the nation, said the minister.