Bengaluru: Health and Family Welfare Minister K.R. Ramesh Kumar said here on Thursday that the State Government plans to convene a special Session of the Legislature later this month or in the first week of October to get the amendments to the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act passed.

Pointing out that the possibility of convening a one-day Legislature Session will be discussed with Speaker K.B. Koliwad after he returns from an overseas trip, Ramesh Kumar said the Government is committed to implement the amendments as early as possible.

Maintaining that the passage of amendments to the KPME Act is essential for the roll out of the Arogya Bhagya Scheme for Universal  Health Coverage of 1.40 crore households in the State, the Minister said the hospitals have to display the prices fixed for procedures.

The scheme would also require doctors to clearly explain why a particular test is being prescribed, he added.

Clarifying that the scheme will not be applicable if patients visited a private hospital first, Ramesh Kumar said one should first visit a government hospital. Only if the desired service is not available there, the patient will be referred to a private hospital, he said.