Hundreds of Doctors and paramedics will march to Belagavi tomorrow to hold 'Belagavi Chalo' movement to protest the implementation of Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2017, informed a press note from IMA Hubballi here today. 

Doctors are opposing the Bill as they feel that the government will have more power to regulate fees and cost of treatment at private hospitals besides a proposal to set up a district-level Grievance Committee to take action against erring hospitals. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has given call for 'Belagavi Chalo'. The IMA State President H N Ravindra has said that over 45,000 Doctors across the state will participate in the protest.

Ravindra told reporters in Haveri that the agitation will be intensified by staging hunger strike on Nov 14 if the government fails to concede the demand. Ravindra clarified that the IMA was not opposing the Bill entirely. "The bill has some unscientific conditions. But, the government is misleading the people and creating confusion among them about doctors. The new amendment has option to constitute a district level grievance committee for controlling doctors, and the government will fix price for treatment. It is a foolish decision,"
he added. From Mysuru, more then 600 Doctors left for Belagavi to participate in the agitation.