Bengaluru: A bill empowering the Karnataka government to fix the rates for each class of treatment to be collected by private medical establishments, was today sent to the joint select committee by the state Legislative  Assembly for further deliberations.

As members of the House cutting across party line  demanded that the bill be referred to select committee, the government agreed to it, but said it will have to complete its assignment in a months time.

Doctors and medical professionals from private  hospitals from across the state had last week staged a protest against the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments  (Amendment) Bill, 2017 to further amend the Karnataka Private  Medical Establishments Act, 2007 (Karnataka Act 21 of 2007).

The bill was tabled by Health and Family Welfare  Minister Ramesh Kumar on June 13.

The bill empowers the state government to fix the  rates or charges for each class of treatment to be collected  by the private medical establishments and to notify different  rates for different class of private medical establishments on the recommendations of the expert committee.

The bill in its statement of objects and reasons  states that if the private medical establishments collect more charges than fixed by the state government, penalty of not less than Rs 25,000 which may extend up to Rs 5 lakh can be imposed.

Imprisonment of not less than six months which may be extended up to three years has also been provided for in the bill, in case of violation.

Conceding the demand for joint select committee,  Ramesh Kumar who today commended the bill for the  consideration of the House, at the end of the debate said, all members who have spoken have not questioned the amendments or  its intent.

"There are some questions on the methods to be adopted and not on its fundamental aspects in the bill.. So the government is ready to send it to the joint select committee, but the committee should complete its assignment in a months  time," he said.

"We cannot prolong the bill and kill the matter  itself, as it is this Houses responsibility towards the people and the poor.. There should be no prestige attached to it," he added.

Speaking earlier, Leader of the Opposition Jagdish Shettar said his party was not opposed to the bill, but sees an opportunity for more reforms.

"Since there are also apprehensions regarding the bill among the Private Hospitals and Doctors, let the bill be deliberated upon in the select committee before coming to any conclusion," he added.

The bill that also enhances certain penalties leviable under relevant sections of the Act, stipulates not to demand any due amount at the time of handing over of the body to the concerned person, but to collect later.

Among the other bills that was passed by the assembly  today includes The National Law School of India (Amendment)  Bill to reserve 50 per cent seats for resident students of  Karnataka.

Following a demand by BJPs K G Bopaiah and  Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, the government decided to reserve 50 per cent seats, against 30 per cent that was originally proposed by it in the bill.

Also passed today were Karnataka State Universities  Bill, Karnataka State Higher Education Council (Amendment)  Bill, Karnataka Rajya Dr Gangubai Hanagal Sangeetha Mattu  Pradarshaka Kalegala Vishwavidyalaya (Amendment) Bill, and  Karnataka Compulsory Service Training By Candidates Completed  Medical Courses (Amendment) Bill.