The Karnataka High Court on Friday directed all private medical establishments and practitioners in the state to restore medical services immediately. The division bench of Acting Chief Justice HG Ramesh and Justice PS Dinesh Kumar said that basic medical services are a right to life for every citizen, The Hindu reported.
Despite reports suggesting that the doctors had called off their strike on Friday, many out-patient departments across the state were shut for most of the day, according to The Hindu.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who had met private doctors in Belgaum district, said that the issues have been resolved.
Doctors have been protesting since early November against the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2017. It proposes to regulate the cost of medical procedures, introduce prison terms for doctors convicted in cases, higher penalties and more grievance cells, among other things.
On Thursday, around 22,000 doctors of private medical establishments in Bengaluru joined the indefinite strike, demanding that at least four of the 14 proposals in the amendment bill be dropped. At least seven patients died because they did not receive treatment as a result of the strike.
On Friday, the court passed its order after three petitions were filed about the “plight of people due to inhuman acts” of medical establishments and doctors.
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