BENGALURU: An advocate from Bengaluru has lodged a complaint against the president of Indian Medical Association Dr H N Ravindra and Secretary Dr B Veeranna for instigating doctors to go on the strike and hence leading to disruption of services.
Terming it ‘negligence’ on part of the practitioners to go on a strike, S Nataraja Sharma has held them responsible for 51 deaths in the state due to non-availability of medical help for four days. Dr H Veerabhadrappa, President of Karnataka Medical Council, said that a notice would be issued to these doctors and an enquiry will be ordered. “We will later explore the legal aspects,” he added.
Mixed Response
A call by the state government has drawn mixed response from different sections of people. While the protesting doctors seem happy about the decision to revise certain provisions of the proposed KPME Bill, activists think otherwise. Activists who have been fighting it tooth and nail with the government and private hospital associations since the formation of Vikramjit Sen Committee to look into the drafting of the bill, feel that the revision of any of the clauses would mean a watering down and the bill will fail to serve any purpose.
“Dilution of this aspect of the Bill would make patients vulnerable again to the whims and fancies of the private medical establishments. It is important that all those who access private hospitals be aware of this and understand that regulations are not anti-doctor but pro-patient,” said Dr Sylvia Karpagam, one of the health activists.
Dr Madan Gaekwad, president, PHANA, said that most of their contentions had been looked into during a meeting with chief minister Siddaramaiah. “We are happy. The government should take a balanced call,” he added.
Vinay Sreenivasa, an activist said, “There is no use of passing the amendments with all provisions being watered down.