Indian Medical Association calls for nationwide strike today

New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association has called for a nationwide strike on Monday, protesting amendments made to Acts relating to clinical establishment and private practise. However, they have assured that emergency services will not be hit.

Medical services in Rajasthan are likely to remain paralysed on Monday when doctors affiliated to IMA will go on a daylong nationwide strike to protest the proposed amendments to Acts related to clinical establishment and private practice.

"Private hospitals, consulting chambers, diagnostic centres, clinics, nursing homes will remain closed on June 25," Indian Medical Association s state honorary Secretary Dr SS Agrawal said.

IMA is protesting amendments made to Acts relating to clinical establishment and private practise.

Government doctors will wear black ribbon around their arms on duty as a sign of protest, he said. The Central government is also trying to amend certain Acts related to clinical establishment and private practise which is likely to adversely affect the profession, he said.

"We will take out a rally and submit a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister to the district collector against the proposed amendments and other moves of the government, he said adding, the emergency services will remain unaffected during the strike.

"Delivery of service would become difficult for us after the proposed amendments which would help corruption flourish," Dr Vijay Kapoor, Secretary, Private Hospitals and Nursing Home Society, said.

What is Clinical Establishments (Registration & Regulation Act) 2010:

The Union Cabinet in the year 2010 approved the proposal of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to the introduction of the ‘Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2010’ in order to achieve the mandate of Article 47 of the Constitution for improvement in public health.

The main purpose of the law is to provide a legislative framework for the registration and regulation of clinical establishments in the country and also seeks to improve the quality of health services through the National Council for Standards by prescribing minimum standards of facilities and services which may be provided by them. This permits categorization and classification of different clinical establishments depending on their geographical location as well as services offered.

Despite many State Legislatures having enacted laws for regulating health care providers, the current regulatory process for health care provides in India is inadequate or not responsive to ensure health care services of acceptable quality and prevent negligence. Accordingly, a need has long been felt for a central legislation for ensuring uniform standards of facilities and services by the clinical establishments.

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