GOVT TRYING TO TAKE OVER PRIVATE HEALTH SECTOR THROUGH BACKDOOR, SAYS IMA

While preparing the draft, the govt didn’t keep IMA in loop. It’s not possible for a majority of hospitals to attend to all emergency cases. DR NAVJOT DAHIYA, IMA’s Punjab chapter president-elect

CHANDIGARH: Rejecting the draft, the Punjab chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has s termed it an attempt by the government to take over the private health sector through the backdoor.

“While preparing the draft, the government did not keep the IMA’s Punjab chapter, the biggest stakeholder, in loop. It has set aside the draft which was prepared by the Punjab Medical Council after consultations with the IMA,” said IMA’s Punjab chapter president-elect Dr Navjot Dahiya.

“The draft provides the government a complete control over the private health sector through civil surgeons and district health officers. The government itself has failed to maintain standards in health care institutions run by it,” he added.

The compulsion to attend to all emergency cases is not possible for a majority of hospitals, he claimed.

“They will have to invest on highly skilled professionals and infra structure which will make them financially unviable. And then services are being made free which will work as a nail in the coffin. How can every facility treat attend to every type of emergency cases and stabilise the patients. A medical centre can’t handle trauma cases and a surgical centre run by a single person can’t handle cardiac emergencies,” the IMA said. An IMA delegation will meet Punjab health minister Balbir Sidhu on Friday on the issue.

“This is not a draconian law as being projected by some. The focus is on bringing more transparency during the treatment. We are open to all suggestions,” a senior government official said.