JOIN USUnder the aegis of IMA district unit, medical practitioners closed the outpatient departments at private hospitals in Chikkamagaluru on Tuesday between 6 am and 6 pm opposing the formation of the National Medical Council.
The doctors also took out a protest rally from Mahatma Gandhi park circle to the DC's office and shouted slogans in protest.
The protestors said that Indian Medical Board has been formed in 1956. The Central government has proposed to set up the National Medical Council after closing the IMA only for the mistakes committed by some people. The commissioning of the new council would be detrimental to the medical sector according to protestors.
IMA district chapter secretary Dr Shashidhar said that the Indian Medical Board Act could be reviewed to introduce necessary amendments. But dissolving the old system to set up a new one is not right. This will bring down the quality of education in medicine.
The proposed NMC will comprise of 64 members including one elected representative from five states each. The other members will be nominated by the Central government. A provision has been given to select one member to the council for every 20 years. This pattern would be autocratic he said and added that the NMC deters democratic values.
The state government has the right to fix the fee for 80% seats in medical education. This has been benefiting students from less privileged classes. But if NMC comes to force the state government could only fix the fee for 40% of the seats. Fee for the rest will be fixed by private medical colleges making medical education costlier for students from marginalised sections.
Moreover, the NMC allows Ayush and Ayurveda doctors to provide Allopathy treatment after going through a bridge course. This will affect the quality of treatment. The Central government should not give the permission for Ayush and Ayurveda doctors to provide Allopathy treatment, he said.
IMA district chapter joint secretary Dr Santhosh, members Dr Raviprakash, Dr Mallikarjun, Dr Mohan and Dr Veena were present.
As part of the stir observed by medical practitioners treatment was not available between 6 am and 6pm at private hospitals including Deepa Nursing Home, Anuradha Hospital and Zuber Clinic. Some patients who were not aware of the stir visited the hospitals and went back. Several others waited in front of the clinics till 6 pm and availed the treatment later.
District surgeon Dr Doddamallappa said that there was no difference in the number of patients at Mallegowda District Government Hospital in Aralaguppe. There were no serious cases either.