39 medical establishments fined for violating KPME Act
Bengaluru: Taking action against private medical establishments for alleged violations of the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act, the KPME Registration and Grievance Redressal Authority has identified 39 such establishments in Bengaluru. Many of these establishments have been fined up to Rs 1 lakh, with the total penalties amounting to Rs 7.35 lakh.
Among the 39 medical establishments, 16—including clinics, hospitals, a physiotherapy centre, and a deaddiction centre were found in violation of the KPME Act. As a result, they have been fined ranging from Rs 10,000 to ₹1 lakh, and one skincare clinic has been recommended for seizure.
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These actions were taken following a review meeting chaired by Bengaluru Urban District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Ravindra Meti and the KPME Registration and Grievance Redressal Authority on Wednesday to address these violations.
In the meeting, representatives from the identified establishments participated and presented their side, whereas representatives from three establishments were absent. It has been reported that several establishments were found to be unqualified or unregistered following the authority imposed a fine on each responsible one.
Meanwhile, the hearings for 15 cases have been deferred to the next meeting, while one case has been closed and another transferred to the Karnataka Medical Council.
Apart from imposing fines on medical establishments that were found violating the act, the KPME Registration and Grievance Redressal Authority also directed the DHO to file FIRs against two medical establishments — a piles clinic in Yelahanka and an alternative medical practitioner in KR Puram.
Speaking to DH, DHO Dr Ravindra Meti said, "These FIRs would be filed on Thursday. In some cases, the violations were committed for the first time. Others involved unqualified or unregistered establishments. The fines and actions taken vary based on the severity of the violations."
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