News & Views dated 30th August 16
Attendants of Patient assault local doctor: IMA stands behind him
A group of attendants of a patient, led by one Sukhwinder, a panch of village Jian & father of the deceased new born attacked Dr. Ankur Sharma of Dhami Nursing Home and assaulted him after the death of the neonate in that hospital. The police, as usual, was reluctant to register a case against the accused and was pressurizing the doctors to enter into a compromise. IMA Hoshiarpur swung into action and with the able guidance of Dr. Rajinder Sharma, our State President elect, Dr. Kuldeep Singh Past State President, local leadership and with your active support who, just at a phone call, gathered at the police station and forced the police to register FIR against the culprits under the Medicare Protection Act 2008. It was probably the first case to be registered under this act in the state. Seeing that police, in spite of the case registered and the offence non bailable, was reluctant to arrest the culprits, a delegation lead by Dr. Rajinder Sharma & Dr. Ashok Gupta later met SSP to arrest the culprits who told that the police is on the job and the accused who are on the run will be nabbed soon. Later in an executive meeting, it was decided to wear black badges on 10th August, 16 to press upon the authorities to arrest the accused. After, the accused failed to get a pre arrest bail from the Sessions Judge and fearing their imminent arrest, members of Jian Panchayat held a meeting with complainant doctors and IMA officials and in the presence of DSP the members of village Panchayat and elders of the area expressed regret over the incident and offered unconditional apology to which Dr. Ankur Sharma & Dr. Sukhpreet Kaur Dhami agreed. In the meeting it was decided that none of the two parties will file or pursue any case against the other party. It was further decided there that the banners in the style and colour of police boards that is blue and red will be formed by IMA but under the orders of Hoshiarpur Police . These banners will highlight the main points of the Medicare Protection Act Act 2008, informing public at large that any assault on a doctor or a hospital staff on duty is a non bailable offence and the accused can be sent to jail for a period of one year and a fine of Rs. 50,000/-. The banner will also inform that in case of damage to the property of the hospital, the accused shall have to pay double the amount of loss of property occurred. The banners are ready and will be sent to all clinics and nursing home shortly. Any member who wishes to discuss this episode can do so after the academic session
MCI Replacement Proposal Opposed by the doctors and the MPs alike:
The proposal by the Niti Aayog to replace the Medical Council of India into a commission is being opposed by the medical fraternity throughout the country. In the draft bill made by the commission, unlike other councils of professionals like Bar council, or for those of CA’s, it has suggested going away from an elected body to be replaced by a nominated body. In the name of removing corruption in MCI, it has suggested that the Govt. appoints their own men who in the wisdom of the Aayog are honest and clean.. It has advocated privatization of the medical education, allowing opening of new medical colleges by the corporate sector. Aayog does not feel the need to cap fees to be charged, thereby depriving children of even upper middle class from becoming a doctor. Feeling the pulse of the Government, most of the private medical colleges have already increased the fees for the MBBS course upto 90 lacs of rupees. The Aayog has invited objections to the draft bill by tomorrow, the 31st August’16. It is the time, we lodge our protest at such a draconian bill so that nominated babus and politicians do not rule over us. The objections can be made by e mail on dirhealth-niti@gov.in.
This move of replacing MCI has also met some resistance from a section of Rajya Sabha MPs. Naresh Aggarwal, a Samajwadi Party member, asked JP Nadda, Health Minister to take full control of the MCI. He was of the view that diving commission into four parts will serve no fruitful purpose. Mr. Satish Chandra Mishra, a BSP leader, said that the Govt. talks of corruption in MCI but no pending cases existed against former MCI president Ketan Desai, arrested by the CBI on graft charge. TDP Member, CM Ramesh also questioned where any evidence exists on corruption in MCI. But Jairam Ramesh, a congress leader pointed out that corruption was widespread in MCI, with a nexus between the political establishment and MCI officials. Nadda assured the members of the Rajya Sabha that the government would not succumb to vested interests and would take all parties into confidence before initiating any changes in the MCI.
IRIA Strike from September 1st
With talks between radiologists and the Union Health Ministry around amending the PC-PNDT Act failing, the Indian Radiological and Imaging Association (IRIA) has decided to go on strike and suspending imaging and ultrasound services from September 1. After a Central Supervisory Board meet at AIIMS in April, IRIA members were assured that harassment against radiologists would be stopped – particularly on petty issues such as not displaying a ‘sex determination illegal’ board, not keeping a copy of the PC-PNDT Act, and Form F clerical errors or even not wearing an apron. The government has set up a committee to lay down guidelines and standard operating procedures on implementation of the act for concerned authorities. Unsatisfied with this, IRIA has decided to go on strike. It has got support of FOGSI, an association of Obstetricians in the country.
Compiled by
Dr. Ashwani K Juneja
Vice President cum Member News & Views Committee