By IANS
Ahmedabad : Lawyers in Gujarat have decided to stage a sit-in and observe a relay fast here Tuesday over the state government’s move to compel doctors and lawyers to fix uniform professional fees and notify it for the benefit of consumers.
The government had made its decision known through a circular issued last week to the associations of lawyers and doctors.
The president of Ahmedabad Bar Association B. Trivedi said the state bar council representatives were holding discussions with the state food, civil supplies and consumer affairs ministry.
“We have however decided to continue with our protests over the government’s move as what they want us to do is not practical,” Trivedi told IANS.
Doctors of the city, who are also strongly critical of the circular, however are ready to hold discussions with the government and have sought time for a meeting.
The president of the 6,500-member Ahmedabad Doctors Association, M.C. Patel, said the office-bearers of the association met Monday and took note of the contents of the directive.
“We protest strongly against the directive and condemn it,” he said.
He said, “The least the government could have done is to have taken us into confidence. The way it is worded, the directive is incapable of being implemented.”
Patel said that a doctor renders a lot of services to patients and “it is impossible to arrive at a fixed price for each of the services offered.”
Further there would not be enough wall space in the clinics for putting up notice boards in Gujarati, Hindu and English languages. Patel said beyond basic consultation fees and room rates it was not possible to arrive at uniform rates.
At any rate in case of surgeries patients are told in advance about costs involved, he said.
The AMA president said a general body meeting has been convened for Feb 6 to discuss the matter threadbare and take a position on it. The association will be filing a detailed response to the government circular.
“Meanwhile we hope government will invite us for discussions,” he added.