Private Hospitals, Clinics start functioning in Karnataka

The Private Doctors and Paramedicals, who were on relay hunger strike since November 13 in front of Suvarna Vikas Soudha (SVS) at Belagavi as the Legislative Session was in progress, called off their stir last night and holding talks with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

However, the agitators received wrath of Karnataka High Court as acting Chief Justice HG Ramesh took them to task by pulling up for failing to discharge their duty and put the patients to hardship by denying treatment which is their constitutional right.

Justice Ramesh advised them to withdraw the agitation immediately or face consequences and adjourned the hearing on Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to November 20, indirectly giving ample time to the agitating Doctors to correct themselves and to the State government to end the stalemate created.

According to reports it was alleged that more than 50 people died due to non-availability of treatment as Doctors were busy in attending the agitation.  People of rural areas were suffered a lot since though the Doctors did not participate in the agitation at Belagavi they had closed down their Clinics and Hospitals on the pretext of supporting the agitation.

However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that all the deaths cannot be termed as due to non-availability of treatment as Doctors and other staff in Government Hospitals have worked overtime and the number of visitors has also increased after the agitation began and all were attended.

Mr Siddaramaiah, during the talks, also took strong exception to the demand to drop the proposed amendment, and announced that the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment (Amendment) Act Bill will be moved in the Legislative Assembly on November 20.