Karnataka: Doctors soften, but stir on

Bengaluru/Belagavi: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will hold crisis talks with striking doctors on Friday afternoon in an attempt to end the impasse over the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (amendment) Bill which has seen private hospitals and clinics shut down across the state on Thursday, causing enormous hardship to thousands of patients and leading to the death of at least 4 people in Belagavi alone.

In a sign that doctors may heed saner counsel, as the stir crippled private health care facilities, a section of doctors called off their protest after the Karnataka High Court asked them to withdraw the agitation, reflecting a division within the medical community. Hearing the PIL petitions, which complained about severe hardship being caused to patients, the court said the government had an "open mind" on the issue and the KPME (Amendment) Bill, 2017, had not yet been tabled in the assembly.

Soon after the court's observations, doctors belonging to Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association called off their strike. But the four other private doctors' associations stuck to their decision to stop OPD services indefinitely. PHANA president Dr C Jayanna said the association has decided to call off its strike in view of sufferings of people.     

Scores of doctors including Dr. Devi Shetty of Narayana hospitals, however gathered outside the Suvarna Vidhan Soudha in Belagavi to protest the "draconian" provisions of the KPME.  President of Karnataka chapter of IMA Dr H N Ravindranath, told DC  the doctors would continue their strike if the Chief Minister did not accept their major demands at Friday's meeting. “We are very firm on going ahead with the agitation if the talks fail. But if the CM agrees to our demands, we will end our hunger strike tomorrow,'' he said. A crucial meeting of CM Siddaramaiah with his cabinet colleagues here has raised the possibility of the bill being passed, but possibly in a form that is acceptable to both sides. Emerging from a meeting with the CM, Health Minister Ramesh Kumar assured that the demands of the doctors would be considered at Friday's meeting. Dr Devi Shetty said doctors from all parts of the state would descend on Belagavi to bolster the agitation. Stating that the job of doctors and soldiers was similar, Dr Shetty said the credibility of the profession would be affected if this bill got through. “As senior doctors, it is our duty to protect this noble profession. We are pained by the inconvinience caused to a large number of people due to the ongoing agitation, but emergecy wings in hospitals are open. We never wanted to put the people into crisis,'' Dr Shetty said.  

Situation worsens in N-K
However, the situation in entire north-Karnataka worsens as thousands of people are being deprived of healthcare facilities even as four people reportedly died as they were refused treatment in private clinics in the last four days in Belagavi alone.  The inflow into the out patient department in the Belagavi civil hospital has increased drastically in the past two days with patients waiting for their turn in long queues through the day. The OPD at the disrict hospital, attached to BIMS usually receives 1,200 out-patients per day. But on Thursday, it had gone up to 1,650, according to hospital authorities. 

The district surgeon, Dr H. S Khaji, who heads the hospital, has cancelled the leave applications of all staff members. This includes 111 doctors.