Imphal, April 06 2010: The medical Directorate, Government of Manipur has warned the private hospitals and clinics operating in the state not to employ any doctor/specialist who is employed under the Government of Manipur.

The registration of the private hospitals or clinics would be cancelled if any government doctor/specialist is found employed.

This warning was issued by Y Yaima, Director of Health Services, Government of Manipur yesterday.

In an office memorandum, the Director said that many instances of death of patients in private hospitals of Manipur registered under Manipur Nursing Home and Clinic Registration Act, 1992 have come to the notice of the authority.

Almost all such cases of death in private hospitals are also found to be treated by the government doctors/specialists who are enjoying non-practicing allowance and who are not supposed to do private practice as such, the memorandum said.

It further said that in such circumstances, the Managing Director of private hospitals/clinics should take up strict necessary actions not to allow any government doctor to do practice in the private hospitals/clinics.

Henceforth, if any such instance comes to the notice of the Director of Health Services, he may take up necessary proceedings to cancel or not to renew the registration of the hospitals/clinics concerned, warned the Director's memorandum, and informed all concerned to treat the notice as the most important and immediate.

What is glaringly missing in the memorandum of the authority is that no word on punishment that may be given to the government doctors/specialists who are making extra huge income by practicing at private hospitals/clinics or at their own home clinics was found mentioned.

The government must also announce what kind of punishment will be given to the doctors/specialists who practice at places other than their government service, observers feel.

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