The total shut-down by private doctors in protest over the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendments) Bill has left patients scouting for medical services from one hospital to another in Bengaluru and other districts.
Although the private doctors had said that they would take up emergencies, dialysis and chemotherapy services, some hospitals are reportedly refusing the life-saving dialysis too for needy patients.
While most patients who visited private hospitals in Bengaluru were shocked to see “no OPD” boards in front of the hospitals, several others directly went to government hospitals. The out-patient department in Victoria and KC General Hospitals were flooded with patients leaving the doctors and paramedical staff overloaded with work. Some patients alleged that doctors in the OPD in Victoria hospital did not start seeing them till 10 a.m.
Due to the heavy rush of patients in KC General government hospital, some critical patients were shifted to other government hospital including Victoria, and Lady Curzon hospitals in ambulances.
Bigger hospitals such as Jayadeva and Nimhans were prepared with additional deployment of staff to cater the heavy rush.
Healthcare industry leaders back protest
Over 500 doctors including private healthcare industry leaders such as Devi Shetty, founder, Narayana Health; Bhujang Shetty, Chairman of Narayana Netralaya; S.C. Nagendra Swamy, president, Federation of Private Association Karnataka; Ajai Kumar from HCG hospital assembled in front of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Chamrajpet opposing the KPME Act.
"This is do or die situation for private healthcare sector in Karnataka. We have emergency services, dialysis units, chemotherapy services going on. It does cause some amount of inconvenience to public we hope the government understands the issues and considers our appeal," said Dr H. Sudarshan Ballal, nephrologist and chairman, Manipal hospitals.
"Justice Vikramjit Sen report clearly said that the act must regulate government hospitals as well. And hence change the name of the act as Karnataka Medical regulation Act and drop the word 'private' from the act. But the government didn't consider the same. Why should the government hospitals be left out of regulations? " asked R Ravindra from Private hospitals and nursing homes association (PHANA).
Mobile medical units
Meanwhile, Health Commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena has directed all Taluk Health Officers and programme officers in the districts to attend clinical services till further orders. Doctors in the Food Safety Department have also been asked to pitch in for clinical services.
Measures have been initiated to deploy 'mobile medical units' in places that require help. The units have been asked to immediately report to the DHOs/THOs so that they can be deputed to suitable localities within the districts, to meet the emergency needs of patients, till the crisis of KPME Act is resolved, the commissioner has said in a circular.
