The State President Dr. M. A. Koya called the QPMPA Annual SWC Meeting of the year 2010-11 to order at 6.15 pm at the conference hall of Hotel Sreevalsam at Vembayam, Trivandrum. Twenty-two members were present.

The State Secretary invested the collar and conducted the Flag salutation. Self-introduction followed.

The past President of Punalur Branch Dr. Rajan Prasad welcomed the members and expressed his sadness in the thin attendance. He was happy in seeing all the doyens of the association at Gokulam Medical College, Venjaramoodu and at the SWC meeting at Hotel Sreevalsam, Vembayam attending QPCON 2011, and praised each one of them for the good work.

In obituary reference, the demise of Dr. Cherian Thomas of Vadasserikkara and Dr. Mercy Mathew of Kottayam announced and the members stood in silence for a minute praying for the departed souls.

The president Dr. Koya was brief in his address and thanked all the members for helping him in his duties as the president of the QPMPA. He gave a brief account of the activities during the year and the latest was the exemption the hospitals got from "Misery Tax" (Service Tax) imposed by the Govt. of India. He said that as a national organisation we have not opened branches in other states and that will be his first priority in the coming days. He informed the house that we lost the Drug Licence case in the Apex court. We must reopen the same.

Presentation of minutes of the SWC meeting held on 13.02.11 at Kochi was next. The house decided to pass it without reading, as it was circulated in advance, as proposed by Dr. A. N. Thomas of Kannur and seconded by Dr. P. K. Radhakrishna Pillai of Trivandrum.

In matters, arising out of the minutes there was no discussion.

The State Secretary then presented the Report of Activities for the year 2010-11 and the house approved it after suggesting some corrections. The Secretary informed the house that the Kerala High Court dismissed the Review Petition – No. 794/2010 – saying that it is an Appeal and not a Review, a penalty of Rs. 10,000 imposed and we paid that. Then the SLP filed in the Apex Court – SLP (C) No. 6877/2011 – was also dismissed without giving any reason.

The leaders from Wayanad, Kannur, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Ernakulam, North Paravoor, Kottayam, Kayamkulam, Punalur and Trivandrum branches presented reports of branch activities.

The Treasurer Dr. K. Janardhanan presented the audited accounts for a total income and expenditure of Rs. 4,37,885.00 for the year 2010-11. The house approved the same after getting clarifications. The president Dr. Koya informed the house that the State Office is short of fund and the National office must advance at least Rs. 1 lakh immediately. The National President Dr. Baby in turn informed the house that membership renewal fees from branches are not coming, and the national office is also short of funds. Dr. TPV Surendran agreed that he would enrol a few members from Mandya in July.

Dr. Jose Mathew gave a report on the working of MAPS. He informed that MAPS is fighting 71 cases now. There was no one to report on CPHA.

In discussions, the President informed the house that the stay in the Minimum Wages Case WP (C) No. 1981/2010 is still in force and requested the members to give a 20% hike in the Minimum Wages to their employees to be on the safe side. The Secretary informed the house that the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1945, is still in our favour and we must think of going in for "Actual Malice" or to the High Court with a Writ of Mandamus to direct the Government to withdraw its order in 1995 directing hospitals to take Drug License.

The meeting resolved to approach the Kerala Government to reinstate the exemption for hospitals in Shops and Commercial Establishment Act. Also decided to approach the Kerala Govt. to enact a Clinical Establishment Act in tune with the Central Act after deleting the offending sections. Discussed the move by the Pharmacy Council to come out with Pharm.D pharmacists, who will be in a higher pedestal academically and they will in future question the prescriptions by doctors.

The members were informed that the re-registration demanded by the TCMC is against the TCMP Act and the directives of the Court, and that the letter from QPMPA has not been answered so far.

The Secretary informed the house that from the date of promulgation of "The Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Ordinance, 2010", in August 2010, attack on hospitals have increased many fold and we must be thankful to the Government.

The house moved a resolution congratulating the good work done by Punalur branch in hosting QPCON 2011 at Gokulam Medical College, Venjaramoodu and the SWC at Vembayam.

The President adjourned the meeting for dinner after the vote of thanks by the Secretary Dr. Kishore Kumar at 7.30 pm.