MLAs oppose present version of pvt hospitals bill

DHNS
June 21, 2017

Bengaluru, Jun 21: Almost all MLAs who are medical doctors by profession on Tuesday opposed the controversial bill to regulate private hospitals in its present form and suggested to the government to conduct wider consultations in this regard.

hospitalbill

Participating in a discussion on the bill in the Assembly, Dr A B Maalakaraddy (Congress) said doctors are already working under immense pressure. Vested interests will make use of the bill to harass them. It will become impossible for doctors to function if their concerns are not addressed, he warned.

“The bill has created an atmosphere of fear. The government should tread cautiously in this regard. We must do it without hurting the sentiments of the doctors...The Minister (Health Minister K R Ramesh Kumar) should not get emotional. His intentions are good,” Maalakaraddy, who is a former health minister, stated.

Dr Shivaraj Patil (JD-S) warned that doctors will not be able to function if the bill is given effect in its present form. Dr C N Ashwath Narayan (BJP) suggested that the government hold consultations with doctors and address their concerns. Otherwise, the government will not be able to protect the interests of the poor patients. It is appropriate to refer the bill to the joint select committee, he added.

Besides, BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar said there are a lot of apprehensions about the bill. Incidents of attacks on doctors have increased of late. Nobody is doubting the government’s intentions. But it should not result in unnecessary harassment of doctors, he added.

Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar said the government should submit before the House the full report of the Justice Vikramajit Sen committee that recommended measures to be taken to regulate medical establishments. The committee had in its report suggested that all medical establishments, including that of the government, should be brought under the purview of the bill, he added.

Almost all BJP members, including Shettar, demanded that the government should refer the bill to the joint select committee.

However, some members of the JD(S) spoke in favour of the bill.

Bill aims to regulate pvt medical establishments and not doctors.

Rate for treatments will not be fixed arbitrarily; an expert committee comprising all stakeholders will be formed for this purpose.

Imprisonment clause for violations dropped.

Many pvt hospitals are over-billing, conducting repetitive tests and over-pricing drugs.

Some pvt hospitals are claiming refund by submitting fictitious bills to the govt.

Govt hospitals are already regulated and hence, no need to bring them under the bill.

West Bengal govt has enacted harsher legislation in this regard.

Counter argument

Harassment of doctors will increase as vested interests may misuse certain provisions.

Attacks on doctors will increase and, in turn, the poor patients will be affected.

Govt medical establishments should also be brought under the purview of the bill.

Submit the full report of Justice Vikramajit Sen report in the House.

The bill has created an atmosphere of fear and hence, it needs wider consultation.

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News Network
March 28,2024

An Indian expatriate, hailing from Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka, who was detained in Jeddah jail in an alleged cyber case, was set free recently. He is allowed to continue his work in the same company. 

The 49-year-old Mangalurean, has been working for a Maintenance company in Jeddah for more than 13 years. He is known for his efficiency and sincerity in the company with good experience in his field of work. 

His company usually assigned him on duty in Jeddah sea port to take the delivery of the goods consigned to his company. As a part of his duty, he normally takes pictures of the goods before the transportation. He did the same in February 2023 too. 

The security personnel informed the police about his act that amounts to be a violation of the port security rule. He was unaware of the rule as he was doing it normally in the port during the release of the goods. Since then, he was detained by the police on the charge of photographing inside the port premises. After more than 6 months detention, he was released and allowed to work in the same company. 

The detainee’s brother based in Jeddah was constantly pursuing the case.

P A Hameed Padubidri, a pro-bono NRI lawyer and social worker based in Riyadh, extended his socio-humanitarian help in this case upon the request of his family and relatives. 

He actively involved trying to set him free from the jail on humanitarian grounds with the coordination and help of the Consulate General of India (CGI) Jeddah. The CGI keenly followed up the case with the concerned Saudi authorities. He was released from the jail recently and shared his happiness with his family and thanked good samaritans. 

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News Network
March 16,2024

Mangaluru: In the wake of complaints regarding middlemen menace, sleuths of Lokayukta on Friday, March 15, conducted a raid at the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority. 

The Lokayukta team found unaccounted money and several files, which were not disposed of for a long period.

Lokayukta SP CA Simon said that the Lokayukta has received complaints that middlemen have been interfering in the MUDA office, and files pertaining to the public are not being cleared on time.

A raid that commenced in the evening on March 13, lasted for 18 hours. During the raid, Lokayukta officials found cash in a bag in MUDA office, and also with officials and others. MUDA officials could not inform the source of money found in their office, the SP said.

Further, he said that many people gathered at the MUDA office during the Lokayukta raid, and have raised complaints about the harassment at the urban development authority. “We have gathered evidence for MUDA officials carrying out file disposal processes through brokers on phone calls. The investigation on the MUDA network will be continued,” he said.

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News Network
March 15,2024

BSY.jpg

Bengaluru, Mar 15: Former Karnataka chief minister and senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act on Thursday for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor at his residence in Bengaluru last month.

Yediyurappa, 81, was booked after a woman lodged a complaint saying that she visited his residence on February 2 seeking justice in a rape case against her daughter and sought that a special investigation team (SIT) be formed to look into the case.

According to the first information report (FIR), Yediyurappa allegedly took the minor to a room, closed the door and sexually assaulted her. The woman further alleged in the FIR that when she confronted Yediyurappa, he said that he was checking if the girl was raped or not. Yediyurappa later allegedly apologised and asked the woman not to reveal the matter to anyone.

The Sadashivanagar police in Bengaluru have registered a case under Section 8 (commit sexual assault) of the Pocso Act and Section 354 (a) (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Reacting to the allegations, the former CM said that around one-and-a-half months ago, they (the victim and her mother) had come to his house seeking help and he had taken them inside. 

“After listening to her, I called the city police commissioner B Dayananda over phone seeking to address her problem. Later, they spoke against me and I then suspected that there is some health problem with her. I sent them to city police commissioner’s office. I even gave her some money as they were in distress. I came to know that an FIR has been registered and will look into it. But this is what I get for helping someone,” he added.

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