Imphal, April 09 2010: Even as doctors working in RIMS and other health institutions under the Government are collaborating among themselves in setting up private hospitals, private practice of the Government doctors has led to the mushrooming of private hospitals in the State.

This came to light during an independent investigation conducted by The Sangai Express taking into account the rising trend of private practice by Government doctors and the recent office memorandum of the Director of Health Services that the registration number of any private hospital/clinic would be cancelled and the same would not be renewed if they utilise the service of Government doctors.

While cross-checking the findings of the investigation with officials of RIMS and State Health Department, it was clear that though it may not be admitted officially, private practice among the Government doctors has become the in-thing today.

There are in all 23 hospitals, 16 clinics and 16 laboratories in Manipur which are registered under the Health Department.

These hospitals, clinics and laboratories are providing health related services to the people.

Though the investigation has confirmed that most Govt doctors including those working in RIMS are indulging in private practices, the names of these private hospitals/clinics or laboratories, which are allowing such private practices, are not being disclosed at the moment.

There are at least 2/3 private hospitals in Manipur which have been set up as joint venture by some Government doctors.

However, at the time of registering these private hospitals under the Health Department, the names of some other individuals have been used, thus giving the impression that none of the Government doctors are involved in such profit making ventures.

Consequently, when these private hospitals make some notable achievements, the names of the Government doctors, who may be actually responsible for the achievements, are kept concealed.

As the service of such renowned doctors are available in the private hospitals through private practice, patients are also automatically drawn to the private hospitals where they work.

There is evidence that authorities concerned of the Government know about the private practices of the doctors working in RIMS and other Government health institutions for the last many years despite the fact that the doctors have been unfailingly enjoying non-practising allowance (NPA) from the Government all these years.

As a matter of fact, indulgence of Government doctors in private practice is an open secret which can be known by any common man.

Any staff in the private hospitals/clinics or the laboratories can also furnish the whole details of the Government doctors practising in their respective hospital/clinic or laboratory and on which particular days they are available for service.

Though spotlight on the issue of referring patients from Government hospitals to private hospitals may have come into prominence following the recent death of a woman during childbirth, our investigation has led to the conclusion that referral of patients admitted to Government Hospital to private hospital where the doctor in question is practising or asking the patients to come for consultation to the private clinic has become an accepted norm in Manipur for a long time.

While private practice of Government doctors has not only become a cause for decline in the health services of the Government institutions, indulgence of many doctors in private practice instead of going to their place of posting in far-flung areas have negated the very efforts being made by the Government to improve the health care delivery system spending huge amount of fund.

Evidences of even the doctors, who are in the rank of Joint Director and posted in the head quarters (Directorate of Health Services) indulging in private practice were unearthed during the course of the investigation.

On the other hand, doctors, technicians and even radiologists from Government hospitals are working in private laboratories which are registered with the Department directly or indirectly.

For referring any sample for testing in these laboratories, the doctors are said to be receiving anywhere between 20 to 30 percent of the amount as their referral fee.

There is also strong likelihood that some of these into believing that equipments in the Government hospitals are not working without offering any plausible reason.

Talking to The Sangai Express in connection with the issue of private practice by Government doctors, Director of RIMS Prof L Fimate said that private practice is against the rules and an office circular in this regard had been issued.

Similarly, when contacted, Director of Health Dr Y Yaima informed that the Medical Directorate had issued an office memorandum to all the private hospitals directing them not to allow private practice of any Government doctors.

However, none of the private hospital/clinic have responded with any report in this regard.

Dr Yaima explained that the Director is empowered to take up necessary action against any defaulting private hospital/clinic though it is not the appointing authority of the doctors.

So surprise visits would be conducted and the report would be submitted to the Government for taking up necessary action.

A circular against indulging in private practice by the Government doctors would also come out very soon, he disclosed.

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