Docs’ strike to hit outpatient services in govt, pvt hospitals
Bengaluru: Outpatient services in private and government hospitals in the state are likely to be hit on Tuesday due to the protest by doctors against the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill.
Routine services will be closed from six in the morning to six in the evening.
However, operation theatres, casualty and other emergency services will continue.
The NMC Bill was tabled in Parliament on Friday and seeks to replace MCI (Medical Council of India) and also allows practitioners of alternative medicines, such as homoeopathy and ayurveda, to practise allopathy after completing a “bridge course”.
“We will close outpatient services to send out a message that the Bill is draconian,” said Dr B Veeranna, secretary, Indian Medical Association, Bengaluru.
In Hubballi, the Hubballi unit of the IMA staged a protest before the tahsildar’s office and submitted a memorandum.
IMA Hubballi unit president Dr G B Sathoora said outpatient departments will remain closed on Tuesday.
In Bengaluru, around 200 medical students under the Karnataka Medical Students and Youth Doctors Association gathered on Monday to hold a protest. The protest was staged by students from both private and government medical institutions.
“We want the central government to reconsider the National Medical Commission Bill. The amendments should be in favour of doctors,” Dr Bharath Kumar, president, Karnataka Medical Students and Youth Doctors Association.
He added that the exit exam introduced in the Bill is not justified. To clear one more exam after four years of graduation is a burden on the students, he said.
Among other concerns raised by the doctors is the inclusion of AYUSH (ayurveda, unani, sidda and homoeopathy) under the proposed NMC. Dr Kumar said a six-month bridge course for AYUSH professionals cannot be equated to four years of medical education.
“If AYUSH is brought under NMC, anyone can take up the profession,” said Dr Kumar.
He said bringing AYUSH practitioners under NMC will spell doom for not only the modern medical profession but also the health of the public.
Dr Veeranna said the appointment of members to the commission is not by election, but rather by nomination by the Union government.
“If this happens, the nominated members will be obligated to the government and not the public,” said Dr Veeranna.