Mangalore: Public Ire Against Hospitals - Medicos to Hold Massive Protest
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Nov 29: To voice their dissent regarding recent incidents of vandalism in hospitals and to create awareness among the public, the medical fraternity and hospitals in the city will organize a massive protest march from Light House Hill to DC office on Tuesday November 29 at 11 am.
"The medical professionals have a responsibility of providing the best possible health care to people. Doctors and medical professionals try their best to save patients from death, performing their duty day in and day out, but sometimes there may not be a favourable outcome which may lead to death. Such episodes may take a violent turn with mourning relatives giving vent to their emotions by physically assaulting doctors or vandalising hospital premises. Though these instances were rare in the past, they have been occuring often of late," stated a media release from the Indian Medical Association.
File Photo
The release further stated, "Theses incidents usually occur when the patient's relatives have to settle the hospital and pharmacy bills. This sort of violence is not acceptable and has to be prevented in the future. In case there are grievances against the healthcare providers and the hospitals, the patient (consumer) can approach and register complaint with the consumer redressal forum and not resort to violence."
The release stated that the Supreme Court has passed judgement and Karnataka state government had passed a bill to pubish the perpetrators of these acts of violence. According to the bill, "perpetrators will be served a non-bailable arrest warrant with three years imprisonment, a fine of Rs 50,000 and a fine amount twice the value of hospital property damaged," the release stated.
However, hospital administrations and the police have not implemented the bill effectively, hence incidents of violence against doctors and hospitals have increased.
The local chapter of Indian Medical Association will hence endeavour to create awareness about the bill with the protest march, in which doctors and healthcare personnel from various medical colleges, private hospitals and clinics will take part, the release stated.
Also Read: