MLAs, ministers divided over KPMEA

As the  private doctors stir enters its second day because of the failure of talks between the striking doctors and the government over the amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, a rift between Congress MLAs and ministers has come to light.  

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) had called for a strike on Monday in which thousands of medical practitioners protested the proposed the bill to make amendments to the Act and took out a rally to Belagavi where the winter session of the Assembly is on.

Meanwhile two groups in which one is for and the other against the bill have come to the fore. While one group is staunchly pressuring Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to accept the doctors' demands, the other is pressuring him to let go of the bill.  

One group of MLAs and leaders has advised him to let go of the idea of tabling the amendments bill keeping in mind the upcoming Assembly polls. "The CM also is inclined to accept our advise and let go of the bill," said party sources.

While the other group of ministers has advised the CM to continue with the tabling and passing of the bill saying, the bill would greatly favour economically backward people of the state and that would work out as an advantage during the 2018 elections.  

Meanwhile CM Siddaramaiah has planned to place the bill before the Congress Legislature party in its next meeting on November 15 for a discussion.    

CM calls to end strike:

After talks between IMA State unit President Dr Ravindra and other office bearers with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah failed, the CM called upon the striking private doctors to call off the stir.    

"The bill will not hurt private doctors and hospitals in anyway. Don't fear that passing the bill in the current Assembly session will affect your businesses. It is not designed that way. Stop the protest," he said.  

The CM also assured that Health Minister Ramesh Kumar would hold another round of talks with the IMA.  

"The amendment bill is being tabled only to benefit poor people," he added.  

Ramesh Kumar absent at meet:

Health Minister Ramesh Kumar was absent at the meeting.  

A member of the joint committee set up to look into the KPMEA bill told DH that Health Minister Ramesh Kumar had warned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that if the amendments bill is not tabled and passed in the current winter session, he would resign from his post as Health Minister

Despite several attempts to get a statement from the minister on this matter, Ramesh Kumar was unavailable.