Health activists want govt not to dilute KPME bill

Members of the Karnataka Janaarogya Chaluvali (KJC) want the state government to pass the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Bill, 2017 without any dilution.

Addressing reporters here on Monday, Akhila Vasan, one of the members of KJC said that the government was bowing to the pressure of the heads of private hospitals.  

"Some leaders of the Congress party are not backing the amended Bill. The government has to answer why the IT and Communication cell did not take to social media to challenge and clarify the misinformation campaign by the private hospital owners," she added.

A Narasimha Murthy from the Slum Janandolana, Karnataka said that each political party has its own agenda about the Bill.

"BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa says that he will repeal the KPME amendment if he is voted to power. JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy  asks why the poor should go to private hospitals," he added.

Dr Sylvia Kapagan, community health physician supporting the Bill said that like the grievance redressal committee for patients, there must be a similar committee even for doctors who are forced to give treatment in a particular manner.

"There is a need to have a whistle blower among doctors to expose some of the private hospitals," she added.