BANGALORE: Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Cyriac Joseph on Thursday asked the Government to take stern action against professional colleges that functioned without the necessary infrastructure.

"It is a matter of concern because such institutions lower the standards of professional education," he said.

Mr. Joseph was inaugurating the 52nd annual conference of the Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons, organised by Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons. "Whether private, aided or deemed universities, they should ensure minimum standards and if they failed in this, the Government should deal with such institutions with "an iron hand", the Chief Justice said.

It is not just a question of correcting violation of building norms but the future of the students in these colleges is at stake, he said. Another matter of serious concern is the high cost of medical treatment that kept increasing and medical professionals should make treatment affordable to people who need it, Mr. Joseph said.

Although healthcare is a primary responsibility of the Government, private hospitals had a moral obligation, he said.

One of the ways in which healthcare costs can be reduced is by minimising preliminary tests when a patient is admitted. Instead of using expensive equipment, doctors should go for clinical examinations as done earlier.

"Doctors and hospitals should care for the environment by effective treatment plants for hospital waste," the Chief Justice said.

Such conferences as this are a forum where professionals can discuss treatment modalities and share best practices in other professions.

Cardiac surgeon and President of the Indian Association for Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons N. Prabhudev said cardio vascular surgeons have not accurately answered the question whether procedures such as opening coronary blockages with balloons and drug eluting stents are better than open-heart surgery for heart patients.

Minister for Medical Education V.S. Acharya and Minister for Science Technology Ramachandre Gowda addressed the delegates.

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