The call for the outpatient department (OPD) shut down given by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) – Dhikkar Divas – to protest over the tabling of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2017, in the Parliament, received partial response from hospitals across the State, including in Bengaluru.
While smaller hospitals participated in the strike and put up boards about the OPD closure, big corporate healthcare institutions functioned as usual across the State. Irked by the partial response, the IMA is all set to issue showcause notices to the hospitals that stayed away from the strike.
Explanation to be sought
“We will seek an explanation from hospitals that did not participate. The IMA’s call against the NMC Bill has generated awareness in doctors community and understanding amongst common people. Many ordinary people have identified themselves with the cause for which we doctors are fighting,” said H.N. Ravindra, State president, IMA.
In Bengaluru, hospitals such as Suguna, Mallya, Bengaluru Institute of Gastroenterology and Al Ameen, among others, closed their OPDs. The fixed prior appointments of patients were rescheduled and elective procedures had been postponed. Emergencies and in-patient services remained unaffected. However, big corporate hospitals including Narayana Health, Columbia Asia, Manipal Hospitals, M S Ramaiah in Bengaluru and KMC, AJ, Fr. Muller and Indiana in Mangaluru functioned as usual. Doctors in these hospitals said their OPDs functioned as usual as “there was no proper information about the strike.” However, doctors who wished to participate were allowed to do so after making alternate arrangements to avoid inconvenience to patients, the doctors said.
Government hospitals
OPD services in government-run hospitals remained unaffected. In fact, the patient load increased by 5 to 10%. “Our OPD functioned as usual and we attended to more than the usual number of patients,” said Mohan Rajanna, Resident Medical Officer, K.C. General Hospital in Bengaluru.
The Health and Medical Education Departments had directed all government hospitals to ensure that they functioned with full staff strength. All leaves were cancelled and staff on deputation and training were called back.
In Mysuru, an IMA delegation met Pratap Simha, MP, and submitted a memorandum asking him to prevail upon the Centre to drop the proposed Bill. A similar memorandum was submitted in Bengaluru to the Prime Minister, through the Bengaluru Urban DC.
‘Pro-rich’
Despite stiff opposition to the Bill by the IMA that has termed it as ‘pro-rich’, the Union government is likely to table the Bill in the Parliament on July 30.
The doctors’ body has been alleging that once the Bill is passed it will lead to privatisation of medical education and would also escalate health care expenses.
