DOCTORS TO HOLD MARCH ON NOV. 16

IN

The Indian Medical Association has organised a nationwide protest march on November 16 against the Clinical Establishment Act implemented by the Central government due to which they claim that small clinics and nursing homes are suffering.

Earlier too, doctors had protested against the Act and since the last one and a half years, they have been apprising the government of the problems faced by them due to it. Indian Medical Association’s general secretary, Dr K.K. Agarwal said, “Small clinics and nursing homes are having lots of problems with the new rules. Many of them are very old and there is no space around them. Despite this, they are being asked to create space, which is not possible. The government must understand that the small clinics in colonies are important for citizens as everyone can’t go to super speciality hospitals.”

The doctors are also upset that despite recommendations to the government, at both state and central levels, very little is being done about non-allopathic doctors prescribing scheduled drugs.

Dr Yadgiri Rao, former secretary of IMA, said, “We had presented both these issues to the state government and also to the Centre in 2013. The fight has been going on since then but there is no response at both levels. It is very important to understand the hardships that the old hospitals are facing. New ones are being built according to the new rules but old ones lack space. Also, structural changes are not possible because of the cost factors.”