Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Nov 16: An advocate, Amruthesh NP, has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the state high court, seeking it to direct the state government to ensure that medical services continue to be extended to citizens of the state during the period of doctors strike. Medicos are up in arms against the ammendments proposed to be brought to Karnataka Medical Establishments Act (ESMA).
Health situation in the state is heading for the worse with the doctors preparing for a showdown with the government. On Wednesday, 11 persons including two small children and a BJP leader died, taking the death toll on account of this strike to 25. Towards intensifying the pressure on the government, the doctors have decided to close down outpatient services in over 40,000 hospitals, clinics and nursing homes including 600 in the city, all over the state. Although the state government has cancelled leave of all the doctors and other medical staff, there is risk of the state moving towards a state of medical emergency.
The petitioner has sought restoration of all medical services to patients all over the state with immediate affect. He also has requested the high court to invoke provisions of Essential Services Maintenance Act towards placing blanket ban on the strike by doctors. He has drawn the attention of the high court towards unfortunate deaths of people on account of this stir and compared denial of medical assistance to violation of fundamental rights of citizens. He also wants the high court to take stringent action against doctors organizations supporting the strike and sought declaration of the strike as illegal and unconstitutional, as the doctors have denied medical assistance to needy citizens.
He also has sought holding of effective dialogue between the government and organizations participating in the strike call to end the strike and achieve cooperation between the two.
One more petitioner, D V Adinarayana Shetty from Nelamangala too has approached the high court. He has sought directions to the state government to make immediate arranagements to extend timely medical care to needy people during the period of the doctors stir.