Members of 15 progressive groups, led by Karnataka Janaarogya Chaluvali (KJC), have demanded that the State reject the recommendations of the Justice Vikramjit Sen Committee on amending the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act, 2007. They believe implementing them would only weaken the public health sector.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Akhila Vasan of KJC said that instead of regulating the private medical sector, the recommendations pose a serious threat to the public health system. By bringing the government health system also within the ambit of the Act, the expert panel is recommending a dangerous tool that vested interests can use to demand closure of government hospitals for “not meeting standards”, she said.
Citizens’ groups and patient rights groups have demanded several provisions to strengthen the KPME Act keeping in mind the fact that the private medical sector needs to be accountable on patients health and not focussed on profits. However, the committee has not taken these demands into consideration, she alleged.
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The groups have threatened to launch a Statewide campaign demanding rejection of the recommendations. “Any amendment should retain [the KPME Act’s] focus on the private sector. The proposed amendments should be put out in the public domain in Kannada and English for at least three months before being tabled in the legislature,” Ms. Vasan said.