Govt's prestige causing deaths: Shettar

Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar charged that the prestige, irresponsibility and negligence of the State Government is responsible of death of several patients who could not get timely emergency care in private hospitals.

He told media persons here on Thursday that patients are suffering due to the prestige of the government which wants to bring amendments to the KPME Act at any cost, and the strike by private doctors.

Only 20% of hospitals in the State are government hospitals, and no proper alternative arrangements are also made in the background of private doctors' strike. This bill alone could not improve everything. The problem would have been solved if the government had given just a statement withholding the bill for the time being, he said.

Some private hospitals exploit people, but the entire doctors' community should not be blamed for that. Only those doctors who commit mistakes should be punished. Government hospitals should also be improved first. The government should hold talks with agitating doctors, and should put an end to this problem, Mr Shettar added.

Siddaramaiah government is the example for irresponsible government, while Health Minister Ramesh Kumar is an example for irresponsible minister, he charged.

Deve Gowda opposes bill

Meanwhile, JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda also opposed the proposed amendments to the KPME Act, saying that it would trouble the doctors.

The government should not have brought this bill in such a hurry. The JD(S) would oppose it if it is tabled on the floor of the Legislature, he told media persons here on Thursday.