The Qualified Private Medical Practitioner's and Hospitals Association (QPMPA) of Kerala has demanded the State Government to implement uniform healthcare standards and policies applicable for both the private as well as public health care institutions.

"More than 75% of the healthcare requirements are met by the private medical sector in Kerala. Our demands like uniform health standards and health delivery system will help the state to cut down the cost of treatment," Dr. P K Radhakrishna Pillai, president, QPMPA told Pharmabiz.

There should be a single window clearance system for all the hospitals and healthcare sector related projects coming up in the state. Policies like imposing sales tax on drugs disbursed through hospitals should be withdrawn, as the hospitals are only prescribing drugs and are not indulged in selling drugs, he claimed.

The government should offer subsidies and reduced tax structure for the private hospitals, which offer free treatment to the people under poverty line. The association represents almost 50% of the total of around 2000 private hospitals in the state.

He said QPMPA is planning to conduct strikes in future, in case of harassment against private medical practitioners and hospitals by the patient and the public. The association has decided not to support government initiated public health programmes like Tuberculosis Control Programme and Immunisation programmes. However, the members of the association will continue to refer complicated cases to the government hospitals. The association is also planning to educate patients on the adverse government policies which escalate treatment cost, he said.

The QPMPA was started in June 1973 to protect the interests of the public willing to pay for their treatment. QPMPA focus on fight against all invisible cost escalation in health care delivery in the private sector. The association is also engaged in abolishing quackery in medical practise flourishing all over the country, according to the QPMPA officials.