Doctors from Vijayawada oppose Consumer Protection Bill

Vijayawada: The doctor fraternity from Vijayawada wore black badges in protest against the Consumer Protection Bill 2018, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on December 20, 2018. 

In this regard, a call was given by the National IMA leaders as a part of their nationwide protest against the bill.

Addressing the media on Friday, Dr Ramana Murthy, president of IMA explained about the new bill and said that by introducing the new bill the District Consumer Redressal Forum’s jurisdiction was increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore and jurisdiction of State Consumer Commission was increased from Rs 1 crore to Rs 10 crore, he said and alleged that there was no provision for a judicial member in the current Act.

He explained that the Act will lead to unnecessary harassment of the doctors and hospital authorities from the patients and their relatives or any associate of the patient as they can register complaint in the consumer forum. 

He lamented that the provision for consumer mediation cells which will be misused to harass and blackmail doctors. He further said that there was no need of expert medical opinion, said the IMA president.

On the consequences, Ch Manoj Kumar said that doctors may go to defensive medicine which may increase the cost of medical tests done for the diagnosis of health condition. However they may not take up serious cases in fear of CPA which is not good to build a healthy society.

Dr Gangadhar, national vice-president of IMA said that if the bill was passed in Rajya Sabha, most of the hospitals across the country will be forced to pull down their shatters.

Senior doctors Dr G Samaram, IMA AP president Dr D Sreehari Rao, general secretary P Phanidhar, finance secretary P Anil Kumar and other doctors were present.