more-inPrivate doctors from nearly 6,000 hospitals across the State took out a massive rally in Bengaluru on Friday demanding withdrawal of amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act, 2007, under which the government is to fix rates for various procedures in private hospitals and penalise those flouting rules. The doctors, under the banner of the Joint Action Committee-Karnataka, demanded “mature deliberations” on the amendments before the Bill is passed in the legislature. The doctors pointed out the “practical challenges” hospitals will face after the new rules come into force. Former Lokayukta Santosh N. Hegde, who expressed solidarity with the doctors, termed the amendments as irrational. The Joint Action Committee includes representatives of IMA, FHA-K, Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Association , Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association, Association of Healthcare Providers – India, and 25 other organisations.

Source: The Hindu June 16, 2017 19:09 UTC