Pvt. doctors' strike hits medical services in region

Medical services were affected across the Mysuru region due to the 'Belagavi Chalo', protest staged by the medical practitioners against the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Amendment (KPMEA) bill, on Monday.

All private hospitals and clinics in Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar remained closed extending support to the call given by the Medical Association. But, hundreds of patients who were unaware of the protest were hit hard.

At a few hospitals, the staff were seen explaining to patients that medical services will not be available for the day and suggesting they come only after confirming services have resumed on Wednesday.

Only trauma victims who were seriously injured were admitted as in-patients for at the emergency ward at K R Hospital.

There was a huge queue at the government hospitals in Hassan, Chamarajanagar and Mandya districts and junior doctors were seen attending only to pregnant women and emergency cases.

In-patients were attended by junior doctors and nursing staff who were on duty. Diagnostic centres, mini laboratories at the hospital and blood banks too were closed. However, private pharmacies functioned as usual.

Notices informing about the bandh were seen posted at several private hospitals, clinics and also government hospitals requesting the public to cooperate.

Venkatesh, District Health Officer, Hassan district said, the government hospital doctors were directed to be ready to face emergencies. The medical staff on leave have been told to report for duty, he said.