Clinics,nursing homes strike work against Clinical Establishment Act
A majority of small clinics and nursing homes remained shut on Monday while corporate-run hospitals supported the day-long stir called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to protest against the Clinical Establishment Act,2010,and the introduction of National Council for Human Resources in Health Bill,2011,besides other government policies.
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A majority of small clinics and nursing homes remained shut on Monday while corporate-run hospitals supported the day-long stir called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to protest against the Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation) Act,2010,and the introduction of National Council for Human Resources in Health Bill,2011,besides other government policies.
Dr Bharati Dhore-Patil,city unit chief of IMA,along with around 300 doctors took out a protest march from the IMA office to the district collectorate,where they submitted a list of their demands. The protest was mainly against the Clinical Establishment Act,which outlines standards for running clinics and hospitals.
While the corporate hospitals supported the stir by wearing black bands,civic and government-run hospitals did not participate in the strike. There are around 500 nursing homes and over 300 hospitals in the city.
According to IMA doctors,which has a membership of 3,600,a majority of them had shut their OPD services and participated in the strike which culminated with a meeting at the IMA office.
Dr Ambarish Shahade,former president of IMA,said if draconian rules and regulations are enforced,patients will have to shell out more for treatment. IMA has urged the government not to implement the policies or at least exempt old clinics and hospitals from these rules.
The doctors said several clauses under the new Act were unfair.
If the Bill is passed,it will not only lead to unnecessary hassles but also affect patients adversely as cost of medical services is likely to go up,doctors said.
The new laws will dissolve current medical councils and instead give overriding powers of governing to non-medicos,who might have no medical expertise,they said. This is likely to lead to harassment of doctors,said IMA representatives.
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