Shortage of Doctors: UP Govt mulls allowing private practice

Lucknow: In a bid to address the shortage of doctors at government health facilities, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to implement an incentive-based model for doctors who wish to practice privately.  

This means that the government is going to allow doctors to do private practice at government hospitals however under certain conditions.  

A draft regarding this is under process at Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute and Hospital (KSSSCIH) in Lucknow which will later be followed by other institutions under the medical education department once the model becomes successful. 

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“Once the draft proposal is approved and implemented, fresh appointments will be made as per the incentive-based system,” said Prof RK Dhiman, director, of KSSSCIH.

Under the draft, the institute will start an incentive-based system for doctors who will receive incentives based on their performance and also get a share in the revenue. A major share of the institute’s earnings will go to the doctor, a part for research projects in the department concerned and a portion of the earning will go towards the infrastructure of the institute.

A decision was made to start the initiative after doctors began leaving government hospitals for private hospitals in search of higher-paying jobs. Due to the shortage, the institute decided to implement a plan for doctors. 

Asked about the existing faculty, Dhiman informed HT, “The decision on options for the existing faculty will be taken later by the state government.”

Welcoming the move, the state medical fraternity said that the initiative is much needed for the doctors to avoid shifting to private hospitals for a better pay scale. 

Dr Amit Singh, general secretary of the Provincial Medical Services Association (PMSA) said, “The change in service rules and implementation of private practice or incentive-based earning will benefit patients coming to medical institutes. Doctors at the institutes will be motivated to work for more hours and see more patients,” said Dr Amit Singh, general secretary of the Provincial Medical Services Association (PMSA). 

“The option to work more and earn more is what lures doctors towards the private sector. If this is available at a government institute, the brain drain will stop,” said Dr Abhishek Shukla, secretary general, Association of International Doctors.  

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