IMA demands representation in all government health committees

IMA demands representation in all government health committees Says professional decisions must take the medical fraternity into consideration New Delhi, 05 June 2017: Demanding that a member from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) be nominated in all government committees, both in the centre and state, the IMA has taken another concrete step towards the silent satyagraha called Dilli Chalo to be flagged off on the 6th of June 2017. The protest march will see thousands of doctors, students, and others in the medical profession walk from Rajghat to the Indira Gandhi Stadium where deliberations on key issues will take place. This is just one of the many issues pointed out by the Association in its demand to uphold the nobility and integrity of the medical profession. The Dilli Chalo movement is expected to witness attendance by even those who are not present in person: through a well-organized live webcast. Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr R N Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, "Why do we need a government? Why not a Supreme Court Monitoring Committee or 20 nominated members to run the government? If not, then are there attempts for an autocratic, bureaucratic, undemocratic, non-representative, 20-member nominated body including 8 non-medical persons to oversee medical education, ethics, and practice by abolishing a democratically elected federally represented 168 members Medical Council of India. If there is a need to amend the IMA Act, so be it. However, it is imperative that the IMA has representation in all important quarters." The last few months have seen several other initiatives by the IMA on this front such as STOP NMC Sathyagraha, two National Protest Days against violence on doctors, NO to NEXT strike in medical colleges, and the National Black Day against West Bengal Clinical Establishments Act. Other than this, 3 action committee meetings and 2 meetings of FOMA were also conducted. Adding further on the issue of IMA representation, Dr Aggarwal, said, "Professional decisions are being taken without taking the medical profession into confidence. It needs to be ensured that the IMA finds existence in every policy making committee of the government." The medical profession is facing one of the toughest times today. Repeated pleas and appeals by the medical fraternity have not materialized into anything except reassurances time and again, to the extent that states are now coming out with draconian acts like the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Act. It is after having decided that enough is enough that the IMA has given this clarion call, Dilli Chalo. . The IMA is also initiating a signature campaign on the issues at hand on social media and has urged all doctors to join and collect hundreds of thousands of signatures to demand justice from the government.

IMA demands allocation of 5% of GDP to the health budget

IMA demands allocation of 5% of GDP to the health budget Says only a quantum increase in allocations can secure the future of quality healthcare in the country New Delhi, 25 May 2017: In what can be called as one of the demands leading up to IMA's Dilli Chalo movement to be organized on 6th June 2017, the IMA has urged the government to consider allocating 5% of the GDP to the health budget. The Dilli Chalo movement is being organized to bring forth the atrocities faced by the medical fraternity with the IMA members joining the movement in entirety. The march will be undertaken by over a lakh doctors in the country, both digitally and physically, and followed by deliberations on issues ailing the medical profession. IMA is undertaking intensive lobbying in the month of May to raise national awareness on issues plaguing the medical fraternity, one of them being the lack of adequate funds for healthcare. The healthcare sector in India still suffers from underfunding and bad governance. According to statistics, India ranks among those countries with lowest spending on public health. Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said," At 1.3% of GDP, the health sector in India continues to be among the countries with lowest relative public expenditure on healthcare. Surprisingly, even the figures for Nepal are higher! Every Indian citizen has the right to receive affordable or free preventive and emergency health care. If the government cannot provide this, then it should at least ensure its availability through the private sector, and reimburse the same. However, all this is not possible without increasing the health budget to 5% of GDP. At present, the government is looking after only 20% of population in the government sector for which 1% of budget may seem reasonable to them. Provided there is a quantum increase in health allocations, India’s health systems will remain ailing with a large number of its citizens remaining diseased and undernourished without the means to afford expensive private healthcare." India still accounts for the largest number of infant deaths, maternal deaths, and tuberculosis cases in the world. The country's public systems are also in disarray: about 15,000 doctor positions at primary health centres lie vacant; and 4,000 out of 5,000 community health centres are without even a single obstetrician. This issue is, however, just one of the many concerns that the IMA aims to address through its intensive campaigns all through the month leading up to the movement on 6th June. Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, "The medical profession is going through its toughest time with the nobility and dignity of medical profession at stake. It is high time we speak as a collective voice against these issues and address the gaps with immediate effect. It is after having decided that enough is enough that the IMA has given this clarion call, Dilli Chalo." IMA is also initiating a signature campaign on the issues at hand on social media and has urged all doctors to join and collect hundreds of thousands of signatures to demand justice from the government.

Enough is Enough: Dilli Chalo on 6th June

Enough is Enough: Dilli Chalo on 6th June Dear Colleague IMA has declared “Dilli Chalo” movement on the 6th of June to bring to the attention of the nation regarding atrocities faced by the medical profession. The charter of demands is as follows. Kindly go through these and suggest more and also suggest modifications in the existing ones. We want to cover all segments of the medical profession (specialities, service doctors, residents, junior doctors, students, practitioners, consultants etc.). How come the government and the celebrities are watching violence against doctors without any empathetic response? Make violence against health care providers a non-bailable act with minimum 14 years imprisonment How come, gradually and now consistently, modern medicine doctors are increasingly being tried as criminals? We are not against accountability but not to be tried under criminal provisions. We want a single window accountability under the council or under a central tribunal. Why is the health ministry sitting on the minutes of the inter-ministerial committee - regarding violence, amendments in PCPNDT act, Clinical Establishment Act, capping of compensation and cross pathy? We want time bound implementation in six weeks. Why should we be the victims of the limitations of the government? If the government cannot provide free primary and emergent care to all, why are they not engaging the service of doctors in the private sector to provide the same at government rates? Are AYUSH not qualified doctors in their respective field and are they not qualified to treat common illnesses, then why force them to leave AYUSH practice and treat patients with modern medicine drugs? Is this allowed in other professions? Is this not cheating and injustice to the patients? We respect AYUSH doctors and their pathies. Let AYUSH practitioners develop their own pathy and grow in their respective pathies and not indulge in crosspathy. Recently, the government banned 344 fixed dose combinations drugs on the plea that two drugs when combined becomes a new drug. Then why are some state governments allowing AYUSH to co-write allopathy modern drugs? Let the public be given the best of their system of medicine. Any mix has to be as per a clinical trial registry. Are we not short of doctors? Are our MBBS doctors before starting practice not giving enough exams conducted by recognized universities? IMA wants to uphold the highest standards in UG and PG medical education. We are against the proliferation and establishment of poor quality medical colleges. The limitations of the government are already being faced by the doctors, then why introduced another exam in the name of EXIT? Would anyone like an elected government to be run by a nominated panel of retired Supreme Court judges or similar eminent people? Then why is the government thinking of replacing it with 20-member nominated body instead of amending the Indian Medical Council Act? Can the same be done to the Bar Council of India and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India? Do all the doctors not have the right to be treated equally in all states? Doctors are already facing the wrath of the limitations of the government, then why does the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission provide extra separate provisions of fine, compensation and jail up to three years, thereby treating WB doctors like criminals ab-initio? Are we not supposed to provide easily approachable services e.g. tackle cardiac arrest within five minutes? Then why are we restricted from opening clinics in the vicinity of residences of citizens? This is the most needed facility available to any citizen. Are we not responsible for the treatment provided to our patients? IMA is committed to upholding the rights of the people to get good, reliable and competent medical care. Then how can the government take away our right to choose the drugs and the company? Will the chemist be responsible for any death that occurs? Will the government pass a legislation and ask the voters to vote and which button to be decided by the clerk helping the polling booth? Then how can the government allow a chemist to decide which drug is best for the patient and a lab technician to authorize a laboratory report? If the quality and cost of manufacturing of generic- generic, trade-generic and brand-generic is the same, then why is the government allowing them to be sold at three different prices by the same company? We want one drug, one company, one price policy. Every citizen in the country has a right to receive quality and safe medical treatment. Then why push the poorer to treatment from unsafe and unqualified people? We want 25000 extra seats for post MBBS 'Family Medicine' course to provide comprehensive primary and emergent care to the public. An ideal GP clinic can be a combination of a doctor, a nurse and a pharmacist. When Arabian countries provide income tax free pay to look after their patients in rural areas along with higher pays, why can’t Indian government do the same? Doctors posted in challenging and difficult distinct areas should be given income tax-free pay higher than that given in metro cities. Are doctors not entitled for equal work- equal pay? Then why the difference in working conditions and pay scales of residents, service doctors across the country? All doctors in the country should be treated at par. How can you allow doctors to work for years under contract without making them permanent? Doctors working in bad service conditions because of limitations of the government is injustice and should be resolved immediately pan India. Reporting the name of the victim of sexual assault is a punishable offence in POCSO and IPC. We want a central law that any allegation against a doctor be not reported by the media until the doctor is convicted. How come increasingly Judicial powers are been given to administrators in various acts. Are we not going back to a Jury system? A doctor should have powers to challenge any regulatory decision in lower courts and not directly in high courts. Why are the government IEC advertisements not that effective? Why can’t they involve Indian Medical Association (IMA) and eminent doctors in their advertisements? If the government is dependent on private sector and is asking all of us to provide free OPDs in government sector on 9th of every month then why not give IMA a room at Nirman Bhavan (similar to that has been allotted to WHO) and work together. This is the minimum they can do. This step will lead to result-oriented coordination between Government and Doctors. Public-Private Partnership is the need of the hour to uphold and develop health sector in India. Dr KK Aggarwal National President IMA & HCFI