What is the issue?
- Karnataka has made draft rules over Private Medical Establishments (Amendments) Act.
- Several concerns have been felt over these draft rules.
What is KPME Act?
- The Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act was passed in 2007 to "to bring a comprehensive legislation in place of the Karnataka Private Nursing Home (Regulation) Act, 1976.
- This act will be the legal control over private medical establishments (PMEs) in the State.
- Among other things, the Bill made the registration of PMEs mandatory and laid down guidelines to ensure their quality.
- Initially amendments made to Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2017 intends to bring the PMEs under the purview of the government.
- This paved a way for the Karnataka government fixing the rates for each class of treatment, and will provide grievance redressal systems.
- It also aimed to put a stop to the practice of demanding advance payment in case of emergency treatment, and not releasing dead bodies to relatives till all dues have been settled.
- After a series of protest made by private health sector entities a recent amendment made has been made which allows inclusion of pro-corporate entities on various expert committees.
What is the significance of recent amendment this act?
- Looking at the larger interests of the community, most of our concerns have been addressed.
- The rules show the importance of private health sector participation in providing affordable and quality healthcare services to people.
What are the concerns over the act?
- In the initial amendments said the government would notify fixed charges for various procedures, the rules did not indicate that the government had any control.
- Many health activists claims that government is leaning towards private hospitals.
- Inclusion of pro-corporate entities will skew both standards and costing in favour of large corporate hospitals.
- It will also escalate costs that will only push citizens into pauperisation and destitution.
Source: The Hindu
