IMA - Medical Association postpones protest

IMA - Medical Association postpones protest

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru: Mangaluru IMA -  Indian Medical Association president Dr G K Bhat Sankabittulu in a statement said the Association  decided to postpone its protest which was scheduled for November 16.

 He clarified, the Central government has sought six weeks to sort out the issue. ``In the wake of the assurance given by the central government, IMA has decided to postpone the protest,’’ he said.

IMA has been pursuing five community-oriented demands for over a year, and had given a protest notice to the Prime Minister, Union health minister, minister for consumer affairs, home minister and union law minister with reference to the observation of a protest day/satyagraha on November 16.

IMA held successful signature campaigns on ’e-medi-nexus’, and the same was signed by over 50,000 members of IMA. IMA with e-medi-nexus also organised an interactive webcast with attorney general Mukul Rohatgi on these issues. Dr Bhat said the attorney general suggested that for all the demands, inter-ministerial coordination committee was required involving health, home, consumer, law ministries along with MCI and IMA.

He said the union health minister had agreed on all the major issues and the solutions suggested by IMA. Most of these issues require the amendment of existing acts, he added.

The IMA has demanded capping on compensation in alleged medical negligence cases. Other demands include changes in the PCPNDT Act, amendments in clinical establishment act to make it patient0friendly and making a Central act with deterrent punishment for those attacking doctors, health staff and hospitals.