The Private Hospital and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) representing over 4,000 doctors and other medical professionals staged a protest in Bengaluru condemning the growing attacks on hospital and its staff in Karnataka. This is despite the state government’s legislation of 2009 which prohibited violence against medicare service personnel and damage to property in Medicare Service Institutions Act.

The panel of doctors included Dr Devi Shetty, chairman, Narayana Hospitals Group, Dr Sudarshan Ballal, chairman, medical advisory board & medical director, Manipal Health Enterprises Dr CN Manjunath, director, Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, Dr HN Ravindra, deputy director, Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society, Dr Thomas Chandy, director, HOSMAT, Dr Shashidhar Bhuggi, director, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases among others.

The other participation organizations which supported PHANA also included Indian Medical Association, NathHealth and FOGSI.

A memorandum was submitted to the Karnataka's Home Minister K J George by Dr SC Nagendra, president PHANA & president, Manipal Health Enterprises and Dr C Jayanna, vice-president, PHANA and CMD, Panacea Hospital.

The Association brought to the notice of the government that healthcare providers are an important part of the community that worked round-the-clock to cater to patient needs. But the sector was forced to put up with the instances of violence in hospitals by the public which has impacted the morale of the doctors, nurses and other staff. In addition, it affected the treatment and safety of other sick patients.

Despite the promulgation of the legislation on the Prohibition Of Violence Against Medicare Service Personnel And Damage To Property In Medicare Service Institutions Act , 2009, the atrocities against hospitals continue unabated. To sensitize the community, PHANA organized a public meeting at Freedom Park, Bengaluru and called upon the government to give clear guidelines and instructions to strictly follow Act.

Further, the Association also requested the government to take action against those who had vandalized the Jain Hospital, Bengaluru  recently where a patient succumbed to H1N1. If the Act is fully adhered to then it could avoid such instances and enable the healthcare providers to effectively enforce the Act which will enable doctors to serve the community without threat or fear, said the PHANA members.