Over 15,000 doctors and healthcare professionals representing Private Hospitals & Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) and the IMA –Karnataka  undertook a ‘Bengaluru Chalo’ to protest the proposed amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act, 2007.
 
The protesters, under the banner of the Joint Action Committee – Karnataka, representing IMA, KPMEA, PHANA, Federation of Healthcare Associations - Karnataka (FHA-K), Association of Healthcare Providers – India (AHPI) and 25 other organisations, took out a march in Bengaluru. They raised slogans against the government, threatened to intensify the stir and stay functionally inactive if the government did not withdraw the amendments.
 
Slamming the amendment, Santosh Hegde, former  Supreme Court judge  and former Solicitor General of India and former Karnataka Lokayukta, said “The Government has no rights to interfere in the affairs of Private Medical Establishments in the manner described in the amendment, it is completely irrational and also dismissive of the corruption and issues long prevailing in the Government Hospitals.
 
“When I was part of the Judiciary System in various capacities and roles, I have myself seen the pathetic state of affairs at Government Hospitals, the government must first look to address this. They cannot be discriminatory in this regard. Government Hospitals are themselves inefficient and corrupt, government cannot enforce an unlawful and flawed regulation. This amendment will not stand scrutiny in the court of law even for 5 minutes,” he added. ”
 
Terming the amendments as draconian, Dr. Rajshekhar Bellary, President, IMA, Karnataka Chapter, said that the  amendments are not in sync with the prevailing standards or norms relating to healthcare globally. Also is completely deviant from the accepted recommendations of the Justice Sen Committee. This amendment is simply not acceptable and is absolutely regressive as it is flawed.
 
Dr. Madan Gaeykwad, President, PHANA, said that the government was indulging in vote-bank politics by proposing such amendments. These amendments are ad-hoc, discriminatory, and regressive. Instead of targeting the private sector, the   government should take a holistic approach towards promoting, monitoring and regulating the healthcare sector.
 
Dr. Nagendra Swamy, Coordinator, FHA-K, termed the amendments as shocking. It  is playing the role of a facilitator sans the involvement of the government hospitals.
 
Dr. Ajay Kumar, President, AHPI-K, stated that  the  government cannot decide  on capping the pricing of medical services met by the Private Medical Establishments. We cater to the healthcare needs of people in an organized manner with no compromise in quality. This amendment dismisses the very constitutional right of a profession in all capacities”
 
According to Dr. Mallesh, President, KPMEA, government hospitals were in poor condition and services were below par and the government should focus on that issue. Instead of meddling with the affairs of the private hospitals, the government should improve the quality of services in the Government hospitals.