Maharastra: IMA protests over unilateral price cap for COVID treatment at private hospitals, violence against doctors

Written by MD Bureau Published On 2020-09-11T16:01:42+05:30 | Updated On 11 Sept 2020 5:17 PM IST

Maharastra: IMA protests over unilateral price cap for COVID treatment at private hospitals, violence against doctors

Maharashtra: At least 45000 doctors of 216 branches of IMA Maharashtra is protesting in front of the offices of civil administrative authorities against the government's decision of capping the price for COVID-19 treatment in private hospitals and injustice towards doctors across the state.

IMA, Maharashtra president, Dr Avinash Bhondwe has recently denounced the alleged autocratic behaviour of the government stating that concerned authorities are issuing orders imposing norms on doctors without initiating any discussion and are constantly threatening the doctors to cancel their license if they complain against anything.

Also Read:Maha IMA seeks martyr status, life insurance for private doctors treating COVID patients

In a press release, IMA stated "since the onset of the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Maharashtra government, the health secretaries and all-district administrative officials, have been treating unfairly to the IMA and all other private doctors. All the doctors are being treated like criminals. The treatment rates at COVID Hospitals were fixed up unilaterally without discussing it with the doctors or the hospital bodies, whether they are affordable or not. Because of these unaffordable rates, the time has come that many private hospitals in the state are on the verge of closure on account of economical grounds."

IMA alleged that "Hospitals are finding it difficult to meet the cost of oxygen, PPE kits, biomedical waste charges, staff salaries, disinfection at the current rates set for hospital ICUs. Therefore, out of 25000 hospitals in Maharashtra, it is time to close most of the hospitals."

Dr Bhondwe told Medical Dialogues that on May 20th, the Secretary of State of Maharashtra for Public Health issued a circular announcing the acquisition of 80 per cent of the beds in private hospitals in the state for the treatment of COVID patients and the rates charged at those hospitals. The rates were announced unilaterally, without discussing with the IMA or any of the doctors' organizations about how feasible they are, how affordable they are to run hospitals.

Moreover, the Chief Secretary & the Health Secretary of State for Maharashtra convened a meeting with IMA. After hearing the problems of the doctors, they issued an official GR signed by the Hon'ble Governor deciding to set up one state-level coordination and a district-level coordination and cooperation committee in each district of Maharashtra. To date, however, none of the decisions in that circular has been complied with. On the other hand, the threatening notices are being issued to doctors under the Epidemic Act 1897, the Disaster Management Act 2005, and MESMA.

Dr. Bhondwe further informed medical dialogues that on August 11, 2020, IMA representatives called on Hon'ble Health Minister Shri Rajesh ji Tope and gave a detailed written statement, explaining why the hospital rates are not feasible and affordable. The health minister agreed and accepted to meet the IMA delegation before August 31 to discuss and fix the rates anew.

In order to hold such a meeting before August 31, IMA repeatedly tried to contact health ministry. But completely ignoring all these facts, the government's health secretary issued a circular on 31st August announcing the new rates, again unilaterally with effect from 1st September.

IMA alleged that this was a complete betrayal of the promises made to the doctors. Instead of increasing the previous rate, the figures were kept the same, however, the ICU charges included patients' daily medications, laboratory tests, oxygen, though. Similarly, the charges of PPE kits were restricted to Rs.600/- per day for general patients and Rs.1200/- per day for ICUs.

Considering the constant attacks on health care workers, IMA said that in most of the cases, the local police delayed in filing FIR or taking action against the culprits. IMA had requested that the Home Department of the Maharashtra government should inform all police stations to take action in such cases under the Maharashtra Medical Services Act and the Epidemic Act 1897, Ordinance- April 2020. Till today, the request has not met the terms, the president informed Medical Dialogues.

The association further stated that a letter was emailed again on September 1 to the government of Maharashtra to consider the demand of doctors and increase these rates. The letter was sent to the Chief Minister, Health Minister, and Health Secretary but they got no positive response.

In view of all of these plights of Maharashtra doctors, IMA Maharashtra has released their layout of further activities. Many doctors associated with different branches of IMA have been showing their protest in a peaceful manner in front of the officers of collectors, deputy collector, municipal commissioner, district administrative officer, and civil surgeons from September 10th. The Leaders of all political parties have been given detailed statements regarding oppressive treatment, abusive statements against the doctors, and of course about the unaffordable & unjust hospital rates.

All branches of the Indian Medical Association in Maharashtra decided burning the replicas of their Medical Registration Certificates at the branch office or at a prominent place as a symbolic protest. They will also appeal in the High Court against this unilateral, unjust decision that tramples the values of democracy.

IMA in a press release stated that "The reason for the failure of the Corona pandemic in Maharashtra state lies in the short-sighted, unscientific, inhumane and repressive practices of the administrators, who are fully responsible for controlling the epidemic in this fashion, by tyrannizing the doctors instead of consulting them. All the citizens know that the contribution of all the private hospitals in controlling the corona outbreak in Maharashtra is invaluable.

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-134382.pdf

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MD Bureau

Medical Dialogues Bureau consists of a team of passionate medical/scientific writers, led by doctors and healthcare researchers. Our team efforts to bring you updated and timely news about the important happenings of the medical and healthcare sector. Our editorial team can be reached at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.