Healthcare to take a hit as private OPDs shut today

BENGALURU: With

private hospitals

in Karnataka handling nearly 70% of the outpatient cases, one-day token strike announced by

private institutions

is set to impact medical services on Friday. Private hospitals are protesting against stringent clauses in the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

The government has directed doctors in

state-run hospitals

not to go on leave on Friday , and instructed district health officials and surgeons to ensure its hospitals are fully functional.

Private hospitals, including super-specialty ones, have put up notices on their premises about the

OPD

strike on Friday. The Karnataka chapter of the

Association of Surgeons

of India has said OPD services will remain closed on Friday .

Private hospitals get hundreds of outpatients daily. Most hospitals have rescheduled their OPD appointments on Friday . The state has about 50,000 private practitioners, who see 20 patients a day. “It wouldn't be easy for government hospitals to treat over 10 lakh additional patients on a day," said a doctor.