Tepid response to doc’s strike

The protest called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) saw a lukewarm response from doctors in the city as most of the medical practitioners appeared to be present at the out-patient department of the hospitals.

However, a few private hospitals, including nursing homes, had closed down their OPDs and patients were referred to other hospitals. Few hospitals around VV Puram had closed down their OPD services.

Doctors at Narayana Health City attended the patients as usual. However, the patients largely remained unaffected by the strike.

The doctors are protesting against the National Medical Commission Bill, 2017 to be tabled on Saturday, which now appears to be tabled on Monday. The doctors against the pro-rich and anti-poor Bill, which they said will benefit private institutions rather than catering to the poor.

Dr H N Ravindra, president, IMA Karnataka chapter, said most of the corporate hospital doctors have not supported the strike. “Unlike in Bengaluru, in other parts of the states, doctors from smaller private hospitals and nursing homes had abstained from work. There are around 54,000 doctors in the state and about 28,000 IMA members. Many non-member doctors too supported the strike,” he added.

A memorandum opposing the Bill has already been submitted to the respective deputy commissioners, while a meeting will be held with the state minister shortly, he said.