Friday will see all private hospitals in Karnataka closed for all outpatient and non-emergency surgical procedures, as doctors across the state are going on strike protesting the introduction of the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2017.

A day ahead of the strike, the Karnataka State Chapter of the Association of Surgeons of India (KSC-ASI) announced that its members will also join the strike called by the Karnataka chapter of the Indian Medical Association.

In its statement, the KSC-ASI declared that it is “strongly opposed” to the “draconian” KPMEA Bill that is expected to be tabled in the Legislature soon. “This act is dictatorial and is going to affect each and every medical practitioner,” the statement said.  

Declaring its support for the strike, the KSC-ASI said, “It is necessary that we take this extreme step as our survival is in stake.”

The KPMEA Bill, which the state government has put forward with the claim of making private healthcare affordable and better regulated for the benefit of common people, has received widespread criticism from medical practitioners.

Among the provisions that the IMA has objected to are the provisions to imprison doctors for alleged mistreatment, to cap prices for various kinds of services and to form a new patient grievance redressal forum at the district level. The IMA has already communicated these objections to the Karnataka Chief Minister and the Health Minister.

Speaking to TNM on Wednesday, Dr Ravindra, President-elect of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) said, “If the government does not listen to us, we will quit our profession by November 10.”

The strike called by the Karnataka chapter of the IMA will affect all private outpatient medical facilities in Karnataka from 6 am to 6 pm. Only emergency and trauma cases will be attended.