New Delhi|HL
IMA has raised objections to several provisions in the proposed Clinical Establishment (Registration, Regulation and Transparency) Bill 2017 by Bengal Government. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has written to the governor of West Bengal seeking a debate and deliberation on the proposed Bill 2017 before it is passed.
It believes are loaded against doctors and unfairly holds them accountable for offences often not committed by them, the national body of doctors has also questioned the exclusion of the government hospitals from the purview of the bill.
IMA office-bearers from across the country met in Delhi to discuss the bill on Saturday. “It was unanimously decided that we will oppose the bill and ask the governor not to pass it. We have also agreed on the need for modifications to the bill. Even though the IMA is in favour of transparency, accountability and fairness, we believe this bill is not fair on the doctors. While they have been made liable to be charged under criminal laws, there is no provision to act against the clinical establishments. But it is more often the hospitals which are responsible for lapses and negligences,” said KK Aggarwal, president IMA. Senior IMA members from the state MA Qasim and S Banerjee attended the Saturday’s meeting.
The IMA has also questioned the decision to exclude government hospitals from the bill. “We have also mentioned in the letter that doctors should be exempted from the Consumer Protection Act which now makes them liable for stiff penalties. Since we now have a new set of laws, it makes no sense to have a previous law in effect. A single-window redressal system should be introduced which will make it easier, fairer and transparent,” said Aggarwal.
Meanwhile, three Apollo doctors were called to record their statements, taking the total number of docs to 19. For the first time, based on their statements, cops summoned an Apollo executive on Saturday night. The Phoolbagan police is likely to continue recording statements till March 12.
Sources in Lalbazar said they were in constant touch with Swasthya Bhavan regarding technicalities of medical negligence. The police, on the other hand, were providing them with evidences of ‘extortion’ collected by them. Till late on Saturday evening, there were indications that the police were mulling to lodge a fresh case once the health department report is made public. “Nothing will, however, be rushed. We are going by the evidences collected by the police and the health department probe team,” said a senior officer.
