Tamil Nadu Govt Doctors under Health Dept's radar over Private Practice

Now the doctors, who are working at GHQH, Shengottai GH and Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital have come under the radar of the State Health Department as the Joint Director of Health Services, Tenkasi, Dr. Venkatrangan has assured to conduct an inquiry into the allegations, reports TNIE.

However, the doctors, on the other hand have claimed that they get engaged in private practice only after the duty hours at the Government Hospitals.

The issue came to light when a Tenkasi based private hospital published its duty chart on Facebook. The chart included the names of Government surgeons and specialists working at Government hospitals in Tenkasi and Tirunelveli.

Also Read: Govt Doctor found working at Private Hospital, arrested

Expressing concern over the matter, a doctor attached o the District Government Headquarters Hospital (GHQH) told the New Indian Express, "These doctors work at the private hospital as per their duty chart, and also mark present for the same time in respective GHs. The junior doctors are forced to take up the seniors' workload during their absence."

However, this is not the only complaint. It has been claimed that a government hospital consultant, based in Shengottai is also holding the post of Chief Medical Officer at that hospital, which is run in the name of his family member.

Apart from this, another doctor who works in the Primary Health Centre in Karumbanur also holds the post of team coordinator in another Tenkasi based private hospital.

Speaking about the matter, the government doctor of GHQH told the daily, "The government doctors' photographs are uploaded on the private hospital's website. Several government doctors in this district also attend special camps organised by the private hospitals during their GH duty hours."

While Joint Director (Health Services), Tenkasi, Dr Venkatrangan has assured to conduct a probe in this matter, an official from the Health Department informed the daily that the activities of such doctors are being tracked.

"We analysed the data of surgeries performed under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, and found that some doctors have 'performed' surgeries at the same time in private hospitals as well as government hospitals. We are tracking the activities of such doctors," said the Health Department official.

However, the government doctors who also are engaged in private practice have claimed that they do not compromise the Government duty hours for private practice.

"Our duty hours in the GH are from 7.30 am to 12.30 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm. Only after these hours, we take up private practice," said one such government doctor who is engaged in private practice to the daily.

Meanwhile, the President of Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC), Dr. K Senthil has opined that using the names and images of government doctors on the portals of private hospitals go against the norms set by the medical council.

"Holding any post in private hospitals also amounts to misconduct," he further mentioned in this context.