No Private Practice Policy: DMCH Principal Dr Sandeep Puri resigns

Ludhiana: After 32 years of dedicated service, Dr Sandeep Puri, a renowned doctor has recently chosen to leave his position as the Principal of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), Ludhiana following a disagreement regarding the institute's new policy that restricts doctors from engaging in private practice. 

According to a press release issued by the hospital authorities, Dr Sandeep is no longer the principal of DMCH as he resigned from the position on February 29 and intends to pursue his clinical practice independently. 

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As per the HT news report, around 8 top doctors, including three HoDs left the institute last month after it made changes to a policy in December last year prohibiting the doctors from engaging in private practice.  

The new policy has directed the doctors to stop private practice from December 31. This recent modification in the policy is alleged to have led to this major development of Dr Sandeep leaving the institution where he had completed his medical education and started his professional journey.

Dr Dinesh Gupta Head of Medicine, Dr Ranjiv Mahajan Head of Psychiatry, Dr Sumeet Chopra Head of Eye, Dr Rajinder Bansal Professor of Neurology, Dr Vikas DM Rheumatology, Dr Saurabh DM Endocrinology, Dr Sahil Chopra Professor of Eye and Dr Amit Berry Professor of Medicine also resigned from the institute mainly on account of policy change.

Dr Puri told The Daily that he was not comfortable with the changes in the policy so he decided to step down. Dr Puri said that he has been working for the past 42 years and worked for 13 hours daily. He would like to relax for some days and will decide later about future plans.

Speaking to TOI, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, who is vice-president of DMCH managing society, said, “The new policy does not allow doctors to continue private practice. As a result, Dr Puri would now pursue his clinical work individually, after leaving the institute tomorrow,” he stated.

Further Arora said that Dr Puri has made significant administrative contributions towards improving patient care, upgrading medical education standards and promoting research activities and has described Dr Puri as a renowned doctor with an accomplished career as an academician and administrator. 

Dr. Sandeep Puri did his MBBS and Post Graduation (MD) in Medicine from Dayanand Medical College and Hospital and joined the faculty at Dayanand Medical College in 1992. He has held various positions at DMC, Head of the medicine department (01st April 2005 to 30th November 2014), medical superintendent, (01st February 2001 to 31st January 2014), Vice Principal (01 February 2014 to 30 November 2014) and Principal (Dean) of the college from 01st December 2014.

He is also Chairman of the Board of Studies in Medical Sciences (Postgraduate), a Member of the Senate, a Member Planning Board, a Member of the UG Board of Studies, and a faculty member of Medical Sciences at Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot.

He has supervised 35 Thesis, participated in 7 Multinational clinical trials and published 58 articles in various journals and chapters in books. His service to the community by donating blood 93 times is also to encourage the movement of blood donation.   

Under Dr Puri's leadership, DMCH has consistently ranked among the top 20 medical colleges in India and has been recognised as the premier private medical college in North India. His tenure witnessed an expansion of MBBS seats to 100 and the addition of 37 seats across various postgraduate and DM courses.   

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