BELAGAVI: Upset over the resistance from his own party legislators to pass the KPME Bill, Health Minister Ramesh Kumar walked out of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in a huff at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday. With the Assembly election round the corner, most members at the CLP meeting wanted the government to tread cautiously as patients’ lives are at stake due to the ongoing doctors’ strike across the state.Many members reportedly wanted the Chief Minister to make a few amendments to the Bill to pacify doctors and defuse the crisis.
Docs’ protest continues in state, patients affected
The continuing stand-off between Siddaramaiah and Ramesh Kumar over the provision of the Bill has left patients in need of medical attention badly affected. As the doctors have decided to go on an indefinite strike, the Siddaramaiah government may adopt a soft stance by keeping the Bill in abeyance for now. Though it was expected to be tabled, the Bill was not introduced on Wednesday. The CM said he will hold one more round of talks with doctors before deciding on the fate of the Bill. Sensing the potential political trouble, the CM refused to allow any discussion on the issue at the CLP meeting.
According to sources, Ramesh Kumar stood firm in his stand that the Bill should be passed to “put an end to fleecing of poor patients by private hospitals”. He also reiterated that he will quit the ministry if any amendments are made to the Bill to “weaken it”. The minister also questioned the intentions of some of his colleagues who are batting to amend the Bill to dilute its provisions in favour of private medical establishments. An angry Ramesh Kumar, who came out of the meeting, refused to speak to the waiting media. “You go and ask my leader,” he said, referring to the chief minister.
PILs filed against doctors’ strike
Bengaluru: Two petitions have be filed before the High Court against the indefinite strike by the doctors of private hospitals. The petitioners, including a practicing advocate, have sought directions to restore health services, while citing the casualties reported due to strike. The PILs are likely to come up for hearing on Thursday.