Bill to fix rates for treatment sent to joint select committee

A bill empowering the Karnataka government to fix the rates for each class of treatment to becollected by private medical establishments, was today sent tothe joint select committee by the state Legislative Assembly for further deliberations.
As members of the House cutting across party line demanded that the bill be referred to select committee, the government agreed to it, but said it will have to complete its assignment in a month's time.
Doctors and medical professionals from private hospitals from across the state had last week staged a protestagainst the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2017 to further amend the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007 (Karnataka Act 21 of 2007).

The bill was tabled by Health and Family Welfare Minister Ramesh Kumar on June 13.
The bill empowers the state government to fix the rates or charges for each class of treatment to be collected by the private medical establishments and to notify different rates for different class of private medical establishments onthe recommendations of the expert committee.
The bill in its statement of objects and reasons states that if the private medical establishments collect more charges than fixed by the state government, penalty of notless than Rs 25,000 which may extend up to Rs 5 lakh can beimposed.

Imprisonment of not less than six months which may beextended up to three years has also been provided for in thebill, in case of violation.

Conceding the demand for joint select committee, Ramesh Kumar who today commended the bill for the consideration of the House, at the end of the debate said, all members who have spoken have not questioned the amendments or its intent.
"There are some questions on the methods to beadopted and not on its fundamental aspects in the bill.. So thegovernment is ready to send it to the joint select committee,but the committee should complete its assignment in a month's time," he said.
"We cannot prolong the bill and kill the matter itself, as it is this House's responsibility towards the peopleand the poor.. There should be no prestige attached to it," he added.

Speaking earlier, Leader of the Opposition Jagdish Shettarsaid his party was not opposed to the bill, but sees anopportunity for more reforms.
"Since there are also apprehensions regarding the billamong the Private Hospitals and Doctors, let the bill bedeliberated upon in the select committee before coming to anyconclusion," he added.
The bill that also enhances certain penalties leviable under relevant sections of the Act, stipulates not to demand any due amount at the time of handing over of the body to the concerned person, but to collect later.
Among the other bills that was passed by the assembly today includes The National Law School of India (Amendment) Bill to reserve 50 per cent seats for resident students of Karnataka.

Following a demand by BJP's K G Bopaiah and Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, the government decided to reserve 50 percent seats, against 30 per cent that was originally proposedby it in the bill.
Also passed today were Karnataka State Universities Bill, Karnataka State Higher Education Council (Amendment) Bill, Karnataka Rajya Dr Gangubai Hanagal Sangeetha Mattu Pradarshaka Kalegala Vishwavidyalaya (Amendment) Bill, and Karnataka Compulsory Service Training By Candidates Completed Medical Courses (Amendment) Bill.