Mangaluru ; Former minister Krishna J Palemar said the state government is playing with the lives of six crore citizens through the proposed Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Bill.

Instead of fixing the rate for medical services, there is a need for improving the medical facilities in the state, he told media persons here.

He said that more than 40 persons have lost lives following the strike of private hospital doctors.

Instead of putting the lives of citizens at stake, the government should try to solve the imbroglio surrounding the bill, he said.

Palemar urged the government to pay compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the deceased. The government has considered the bill as a prestige issue.

“The administrative mechanism has collapsed in the state. There is lack of coordination between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Health Minister K R Ramesh. The government should wake up and fulfil the demands of the protesting doctors,” he demanded.

Stating that doctors too have a responsibility, Palemar said that they should have concern for poor patients.

They should withdraw their protest and treat the patients on a humanitarian ground, he appealed.

“The state government itself does not have a clear idea about this bill. Private hospitals are providing various types of facilities and high-class treatments.

The services are also provided according to the patients’ wish. If someone requires an American surgeon for treatment, a hospital is making all arrangements for it. It costs more than a local surgeon’s fee in this case. Then, how can they charge as per government’s order?” he asked.

It is not right on the part of the government to fix rate for the hospitals nor send doctors to jail.

A doctor always tries to save the lives of his patients, which should be understood by the government. Let the government bring in a law to improve quality of health services in private hospitals, he said.