The state government has proposed amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act 2007 and Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Rules 2009 to bring under its ambit practitioners of other systems of medicine which were hitherto outside the acts ambit.

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) has been entrusted with the drafting of fresh rules. The draft will be ready by three-weeks, the state government said.

Observing deficiencies in the aforementioned act, the state government had appointed a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Justice Vikramjit Sen to submit recommendations.

Following the committees report, the government asked NLSIU to commence drafting the new rules, according to sources in the health department. A meeting of officials led by Justice Sen, officials and health experts resolved to hand over the task to NLSIU.

The draft is likely to change the existing name Private Medical Establishments Act by including services offered by government-run or controlled hospitals. Besides, it was also considered that except allopathy, other systems of medicine did not come under the ambit of the law.

The earlier act did not have any provision to share data between private and government establishments. Further, the act did not mention any definite penalty or punitive action under various clauses.

Detailed and standard treatment guidelines to impart quality treatment to the patients were not in it. All these deficiencies will be rectified in the new rule which will soon be drafted, said a senior officer of the health department.

Efforts have been underway to ensure mandatory treatment of trauma and accident victims and emergency cases and encourage participation of private hospitals in programmes of universal health coverage targeting marginalised sections of society. The draft which will be placed before the cabinet is likely to be tabled in the state legislature during the budget session.

Read more here:

Bill to rein in alternative medicine practitioners - Bangalore Mirror