Repetitive warning to rogue government doctors
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: November 07, 2024 -

AS successive health ministers and heads of public hospitals had been advising in-service doctors to dissociate from private healthcare institutions and clinics but to no avail, it seems that announcements made periodically that recalcitrant medical professionals shall face punitive actions are merely formalities if one takes into account that were no instance of rustication of government doctors.

Thus, it could be safely assumed that the health minister Dr Sapam Ranjan warning to initiate disciplinary action against doctors who flout standard rules is only aimed at ensuring that the in-service government doctors serve the public diligently as long as they are in the government pay roll.

Along with assuring to look into reports of government doctors working at private hospitals and clinics, if any, the health minister on Tuesday advised the government doctor to give up rendering service at privately run hospitals and clinics.

Responding to media queries on the sidelines of the 13th foundation day celebration cum oath taking ceremony of the nursing students of College of Nursing, the minister also announced that he will initiate investigation into reports of government doctors working in private hospitals or clinics in defiance of existing regulations, apart from confiding that disciplinary action would be taken up against any doctor found breaching the rules.

The minister's stand reflects that the government is keen to improve the healthcare sector in the state with proactive involvement of the doctors and nursing staff, whose commitment and diligent service is essential to enhance profile of government hospitals and make an impression on the general population that government hospitals are not inferior to private healthcare institutions.

Apart from successive health ministers advising doctors not to flout the norms, in 2018 then JNIMS director professor Th Bhimo cautioned doctors under the JNIMS Society that appropriate punitive actions would be initiated against those found practising in private hospitals or clinic.

Such directives sans follow up action, however, wouldn't bring any substantial change to what is practically an unethical practice among doctors employed under the government.

For the past many years issuing warnings has been a tradition after every change of guards in the state or whenever new heads of institution take over the charge.

Ministers and bureaucrats too, have been periodically reminding that doctors of public hospitals receive non-practicing allowance (NPA) and hence it is unethical to share their experience and expertise in private hospitals when they are still in service.

Reprimanding doctors by institutional authority as well as every new government in the state had been norm but is yet to have any significant impact in reality as was evident from Prof Bhimo's words of caution for the in-service doctors.

Though it is an undeniable fact that it is unethical rendering service for private parties after receiving the NPA, some doctors have been paying no heed and continue to team up with private hospitals or clinics - not necessarily to serve those in need of their vast experience but basically to rake in additional incentive when their services are still considered invaluable for the private undertakings to impress the patient costumers.

As such, it is suggested that authorities concerned encourage the government doctors to discharge their duty with sincerity, at-least during their working hours, instead of redirecting patients from public to private hospitals or clinics, they are familiar with.