Belagavi: Nod for Docs bill, but MLCs flay hospitals

Belagavi: Health Minister, Ramesh Kumar strongly defended the Bill to regulate private hospitals, which had put the government on a collision course with doctors recently, in the Council on Thursday, claiming it was intended to protect the rights of patients.

The much watered down Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill,  was later  passed by the House. Earlier  members cutting across party lines gave suggestions and accused private hospitals and doctors of fleecing patients.  

Applauding its intent, the Minister told the House that it had several provisions to help patients.  For instance, it made sure that private hospitals would hand over the body of a dead person to his or her family without demanding payment of  outstanding dues, he noted. "We have not deleted the provision of imprisonment for fake doctors, who run illegal clinics either," he added,  thanking CM Siddaramaiah for giving him the opportunity to introduce a Bill that had far reaching benefits for patients and their families. 

While the Minister and Council members hit out at private hospitals for the exorbitant charges,  floor leader and Minister, M.R. Seetharam, who owns the multi-specialty M.S.Ramaiah hospital,  was silent all through.