In support of the nationwide call given by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) against the proposed National Medical Commission (NMC) bill, the private hospitals and the clinics would remain closed on Wednesday. The emergency services however would remain unhampered.
The general secretary of the Uttarakhand Chapter of IMA, Dr D D Chaudhury said that the IMA has given a call for 24 hours withdrawal of services from 6 am on July 31 to August 1. However, Emergency, Casualty, ICU and related services will function normally.
He said that the Section 32 of the NMC Bill provides for licensing of 3.5 lakhs unqualified non medical persons to practice modern medicine. “The term Community Health Provider (CHP) has been vaguely defined to allow anyone connected with modern medicine to get registered in NMC and be licensed to practice modern medicine. This would mean that all paramedics including pharmacists, nurses, physiotherapists, optometrists and others are becoming eligible to practice modern medicine and prescribe independently. This law legalizes quackery. This provision and the earlier objected provisions can never be accepted by the medical fraternity of the country,’’ he said. The IMA secretary added that proposed NMC would seriously affect the health of the nation.
The one day strike call of the IMA would affect the health services of the state.
There are more than 1400 private hospitals and clinics in the state which treat thousands of patients daily.
