Karnataka private doctors' strike: Massive emergency unfolds, deaths reported

A massive emergency unfolded in Karnataka today with private hospitals shutting down their out-patient departments.

At least two deaths were reported as a result.

PTI reported one death from Jamakhandi Taluk in Bagalkote district after a gravely-ill woman was taken to a private hospital, where there was allegedly no one to attend to her.

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She was rushed to a government hospital but died on the way, her family said.

ANI reported another death at a private hospital in Dharwad where a 24-year-old allegedly died due to a delay in treatment in the wake of the statewide private doctors' strike.

News reports had earlier reported that as many as six people had died in the past week as a result of the strike. Bengaluru's private doctors had joined the strike Thursday.

The doctors are protesting against proposed amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007.

The proposed amendments would allow the government to cap treatment costs, would force private hospitals to adhere to set standards of infrastructure and staffing; and would force them to display, prominently, a patient’scharter enumerating their rights.

Private hospitals would also need to display brochures detailing the costs of treatments and provide patients, before treatment starts, with clear estimates of treatments not covered under the fixed rates.

The amendments also lay out punishments -- stretching from 6 months to 3 years in jail -- for medical negligence.

The proposed amendments are based on recommendations by former Supreme Court judge Vikramajit Sen.

Karnataka's private doctors -- including a number of big names -- have called the amendments "draconian, saying they would affect the quality of healthcare provided.

The private doctors have added that the government would be better served by raising the standards of government hospitals.

PTI reported police Thursday as sayingthat students of a Ramanagar school who were injured after their van collided with a government bus reportedly faced difficulties after a nearby private hospital allegedly refused to accept them and referred them to Bengaluru.

Two children were killed and seven others injured in the accident, police said.

The striking doctors had said they would keep their emergency services (dialysis, chemotherapy etc) running but news reports said some hospitals had shut even those down.

Stormy scenes were witnessed in the Karnataka assembly because of the strike with the Opposition BJP saying the situation must be resolved immediately, or it may lead to even more deaths.

Karnataka Health Minister Ramesh Kumar said the government was ready to talk to the striking doctors.

"We will try to find a solution soon We are open for discussion with doctors," PTI reported the minister as saying.

Kumar said the doctors had a responsibility to their patients and that by shutting down medical services, they were making the common man suffer.

He added that the government had no intention of harassing private doctors or hospitals.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah meanwhile met with Kumar Thursday to discuss the strike.

Siddaramaiah will also meet members of the doctors' association Friday.

The Private Hospitals' and Nursing Homes' Association -- a body of some 300 private medical establishments around the state -- meanwhile has called off its strike.