Bengaluru: Expressing solidarity with the agitating doctors against the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendments) Bill, over 22,000 private doctors from nearly 6,000 hospitals including diagnostic facilities will shut down out-patient department services indefinitely from Thursday.

Except for emergency services, including dialysis and chemotherapy, all outpatient services and elective surgeries too will not be taken up from Thursday, announced C. Jayanna, president (elect) of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA), who spoke on behalf of the KPME Association.

Appealing to the public to cooperate with them, the doctors said the KPME Bill, if passed in the legislative session, will ultimately and gradually result in the closure of all private hospitals in the State. “We cater to over 78 per cent of the population providing quality and world class care that is not available in government hospitals. If private hospitals are closed down, it will hit the public,” he said.

The Bill, when passed by the legislature, will enable the government to regulate private hospitals in all aspects. It envisages setting up of an expert committee that would classify private medical establishments and recommend the State government to fix the cost of treatment for different medical services.

Prohibiting private hospitals from imposing additional charges over and above the rates fixed by the government “unless explained to and consented to by the patient,” the Bill envisages the setting up of a district and metropolitan grievance redressal committee to look into the complaints against or lapses on the part of the private hospitals.

The Bill mandates private hospitals to first hand over the dead body to a family and later collect the dues payable to it. It also prohibits private hospitals from demanding advance payments from patients or the family in case of emergency treatments.