KALABURAGI: Health and Family Welfare Minister Ramesh Kumar on Tuesday refuted the argument that the recent amendments to Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act have become ‘toothless’ following the changes that were made after the private doctor’s strike.
He said the Act had many unique provisions which would help improve the facilities in government hospitals, besides safeguarding the interests of poor patients.
The Minister pointed out that one of the most important provisions in the Act is that it is mandatory for all people covered under the recently launched Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to first get the treatment at the government hospitals.
“This rule is applicable to all people, from the Chief Minister to the Class IV employees, and also the general public who have been extended health coverage under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) from November 1, bringing all government health schemes under one umbrella,” he said.
If the treatment required is not available at the government hospital or in cases of an emergency such as heart attack, brain haemorrhage or serious accident, can a person avail treatment at a private hospital, he added.
Hereafter the cash reimbursement that the government employees used claim from the Department Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) will not be available,” Mr Kumar said. He hoped it would help curb misuse of government funds.
Mr Kumar stressed that the KPME Act was not against private medical practiotioners. “Our aim is only to regulate those private hospitals and also quacks, for whom it has become a business,” he clarified.
Maternal deaths sadden minister
Earlier addressing the officers of the Health Department from the six districts of Hyderabad Karnataka region, Mr Kumar became emotional and tears rolled out of his eyes when he referred to the high rate of maternal deaths in the region.
“For me this issue is highly disturbing. I’ll cry even if one child becomes an orphan due to maternal death. Can you imagine the future of a new born baby, which has lost its mother even before it opens its eyes?”
He urged the officials to effectively implement government programmes in Hyderabad-Karnataka region, which has high incidence of MMR cases.
‘Shun private practice’
The Minister took strong exception to government doctors taking up private practice. “I beg the government doctors not to do it. I know some of you people are very much after this devil called money. Please don’t go after it. We will give you more money by way of incentives,” Mr Kumar assured the doctors.
