Private hospitals, clinics across state remain closed

Strike to protest against move to amend Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act Act, 2007

Patients are standing in line in front of the out patient registration counter at the Government Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru on Friday, as most private hospitals and clinics had downed shutters.

Private hospitals and clinics across the state shut down in support of the strike called by the state chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to protest against the state government’s move to amend the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act (KPME) Act, 2007.

In Mysuru, clinics and diagnostic centres remained closed and private hospitals did not offer outpatient consultation and services. No consultation services for outpatients were offered in the estimated 120 private medical establishments in the city, including JSS Hospital, Apollo BGS Hospital, Columbia Asia etc. However, emergency services were available at the private hospitals.

Sources in JSS Hospital and Apollo BGS Hospital said the treatment of in-patients admitted to the hospital continued as usual, while the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and emergency wings of the hospital functioned normally.

In Mangaluru, major hospitals, such as the Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Father Muller Medical College Hospital, A.J. Hospital and Research Centre, Yenepoya Hospital, Unity Hospital, Omega Hospital, Tejasvini Hospital, and other nursing homes closed down their outpatient departments. On the outskirts of the city, K.S. Hegde Medical College Hospital, Yenepoya Hospital at Deralakatte also shut their OPD. However, these hospitals offered emergency medical services.

There were several patients seen waiting at the Government Wenlock Hospital in the city.

Dr. Annayya Kulal, co-ordinator, coastal division, Karnataka chapter of the IMA, told 

The Hindu  that the strike by doctors was a success. All private hospitals in the coastal districts shut down OPD.