IMA opposes Clinical Establishments Act in State

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) has strongly opposed the TDP government’s idea of issuing ordinance for the Clinical and Medical Establishments Regulation Act in the State.Talking to the newsmen here on Tuesday, IMA former national president Dr G Samaram stated that the provisions in Clinical Establishments Act will escalate the cost of treatment and adversely affect small and medium size hospitals.

Only 20 per cent of the people in the State are getting medical aid from the government hospitals and the rest 80 per cent are opting corporate hospitals, he said. Citing reasons for opposition, he said that provisions in the Act will increase the cost of medical establishments and consequently the cost of treatment.

The provisions in the Act are such that it will have an adverse impact on the patients and is just a way of encouraging corporate and costly hospitals in the State. The poor patients and the society in general will be the sufferers. Only a few big and corporate hospitals will be able to survive, but the cost of treatment would be beyond the reach of most of the patients, he said.

Dr Samaram said that the IMA has raised the issue with Central Ministers and a coordination committee was conveyed by the Centre to find out the possibilities for the implementation of the Act. Reports were yet to be submitted to the Centre. Meanwhile, the AP government wants to issue ordinance for the Act in the State.

He threatened series of agitations against the government if it failed to rollback its idea of issuing ordinance for the Act in the State. The IMA Chairman Dr N Appa Rao, former president Dr P Venkateswarlu, State president Dr GS Murthy, secretary Dr MA Rehman and others were also present at the news conference.