KPME act row: Bengaluru doctors go on indefinite strike, CM Siddaramaiah ready for talks

Medical services in the capital city of Karnataka were badly hit on Thursday after doctors of private hospitals went on an indefinite strike over the proposed amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME), Act 2007.

The proposed amendments in the KPME Act will make hospitals accountable for medical negligence and the doctors were opposing it.

Alleging the proposed KPME Act amendments as “detrimental” to the medical profession, doctors announced complete shutdown of the out-patient services.

“We are protesting against the proposed amendments to the KPME Act. We are forced to close our OPD services TODAY. However, emergency services will be available,” a notice pasted outside a Bengaluru hospital read.

#Visuals from #Bengaluru: Private hospitals' indefinite strike demanding dropping of at least four contentious proposals in the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (amendment) Bill 2017-an amendment to the original Act of 2007; OPDs non-functional pic.twitter.com/17t6nfLD82

— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s at Belagavi on Wendesday had assured the doctors to hear their demands before the KPME Bill is introduced again and appealed them to withdraw the strike.

However, Chief Minister's appeal could not make any impact and the doctors went on an indefinite strike shuting down OPD services.

“I met a group of doctors at Belagavi & assured them that govt will hear them before the KPME Bill is introduced again. I appealed to them to withdraw their strike. Yet, the strike is ongoing & continues to put people to inconvenience,” he tweeted.

I will call them and discuss: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ANI on doctors' strike #Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/NwoI8Tim6S

— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2017

He said, “When the Bill is not introduced, when we are willing to talk to stakeholders, I am surprised by the unilateral decision of IMA to continue the strike & disrupt healthcare services.”

“Opposition parties are being opportunistic & encouraging doctors to continue the strike. @BSYBJP has even promised to repeal KPME Act. If he wants to stand against the poor & needy patients, that is his choice. I appeal to the doctors not to fall prey to opportunistic politics, Siddaramaiah said in a series of tweets.