JOIN USGovt faces BJP wrath for failing to resolve KPME Bill imbroglio
The BJP on Thursday took the state government head on in both Houses of the legislature for its 'inaction' in resolving the imbroglio surrounding the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment (Amendment) Bill (KPME) - 2017 and getting the doctors back to work.
Raising the issue in the Legislative Assembly, Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar said the laxity on the part of the government had resulted in the death of 25 patients across the state during the last three days.
"Why are you taking this as a prestige issue? A transport strike can only result in change of travel plans, strike by advocates can result in postponement of cases, but a strike by doctors is something entirely different. Why is the government failing to understand the gravity of the issue ?" Shettar said.
The medical fraternity attached to private hospitals has been on strike since Monday, protesting protest against various provisions of the bill, including jail term for doctors in the event of death of a patient due to medical negligence.
C T Ravi (BJP) said the differences between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Health Minister K R Ramesh Kumar over the Bill was costing the patients dear. "The chief minister is in favour of diluting the provisions of the bill, while the Health Minister is against it," Ravi said, adding that the government could have taken steps to bring doctors from outside the state to ensure patients do not suffer.
Another BJP member Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri demanded that the government should defer tabling the revised version of the bill so that doctors can report back for duty.
In the Legislative Council, leader of the Opposition K S Eshwarappa held the government responsible for the death of more than 25 persons across the state due to lack of medical treatment. The government has turned a blind eye on the sufferings of hundreds of patients. It has refused to hold talks with the protesting doctors despite repeated requests, he charged.
Speaker's appeal to govt
Speaker K B Koliwad made a suo motu statement in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, appealing the government to find a solution to the KPME Bill imbroglio at the earliest.
"Reports in the media about the suffering of patients has saddened me. This should be solved. The government should hold talks with representatives of the protesting doctors and resolve the issue. At the same time, the doctors should resume duty immediately on humanitarian grounds," Koliwad said.