Karnataka private doctors continue to protest; death toll rises to 24

The death toll due to a lack of treatment in Karnataka has gone up to 24 The private doctors are adamant and have threatened to continue their protest till the KPME Bill is withdrawn KPME Bill curtails the power of private hospitals and is pro-poor, and the hospitals are not ready to compromise on money

The private doctors in Karnataka have decided to continue the protest against the bill which is yet to be tabled at the cost of 24 lives in the state. The death toll of patients due to a lack of treatment is expected to rise as most of the OPD sections are closed, and hospitals are not giving any service.

In a rather shocking development, it looks like the private doctors are showing their true colours as they do not want to agree to any of the pro-poor rules, which might not fetch them a good amount of money.

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In Haveri alone, seven people have died. With the protest reaching the third day, 24 people have lost lives. The protest is against the KPME Bill which curtails the power and decision-making capacity of the private hospitals and tries to regulate the exorbitant fee charged by them.

The Health Minister had even said that the government was ready for amendment in the proposed Bill. But the adamant doctors just want the Bill to go. They have threatened that they will not attend service until their demands are met.

If the government agrees to doctors' demands, then there will be no one to control the private hospitals. Will government at least consider this as a lesson and improve the conditions of the government hospitals?

Meanwhile taking the PIL submitted by the medical Associations for hearing, the Karnataka High Court also has asked the government and the Medical organisations to clear their stand and solve the problem by 2.30 PM today. If the government cannot bring a solution by then, the Court will intervene, stated the HC.

Though people are going to the government hospitals, there are not enough hospitals to accommodate them, nor do the hospitals have all the facilities to treat them.