Patna: The Bihar government has announced a strict crackdown on private activities operating within public health institutions following reports that the patients were being diverted from government hospitals to private facilities.
Citing complaints alleging that personnel linked to private nursing homes, diagnostic laboratories, X-ray centres and pharmacies were persuading patients to move out of government hospitals for private treatment, tests and medicines, Health Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh has instructed all district magistrates to strictly enforce the measure. Officials said such practices amount to a direct attack on government welfare health schemes and deny the public access to state-provided healthcare.
As per the latest media report by Patna Press, as a part of the Government crackdown, district-level joint inspection teams will be formed to monitor government medical college hospitals, district and sub-divisional hospitals, community health centres, and primary health centres. These teams will include senior deputy collectors, district officers, and government medical officers. Special investigation units will also be set up to stop private operations within public health institutions.
District-level joint inspection teams will be formed to monitor government medical college hospitals, district and sub-divisional hospitals, community health centres, and primary health centres. These teams will include senior deputy collectors, district officers, and government medical officers. Special investigation units will also be set up to stop private operations within public health institutions.
The report further said that strict action will be taken against those found engaging in illegal activities. Private individuals involved will face legal proceedings, while government employees found complicit will face departmental action. Each district will appoint a nodal officer to review inspection reports and submit them to the Health Department.
The campaign aims to ensure that government healthcare facilities remain fully accessible to the public without interference from private agents or institutions.
Government hospitals are meant to offer subsidised treatment, diagnostics, and medicines, particularly for economically vulnerable patients who may not be able to afford private healthcare. Referring to the reports that patients are being diverted from government facilities, Officials described the practice as a direct attack on government welfare health schemes and an attempt to deprive the public of state-provided healthcare.
Officials further told the Daily that the campaign aims to ensure that government healthcare facilities remain fully accessible to the public without interference from private agents or institutions.
Meanwhile, the Bihar government has announced the formation of a committee to consult on the implementation of a proposed policy that seeks to ban private practice by government doctors. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that under the policy, the doctors working at state-run hospitals, medical colleges, and health institutions will no longer be allowed to engage in private practice outside the public healthcare system.
The decision aims to guarantee the consistent availability of medical professionals in government facilities and to enhance the speed and standard of care, particularly for economically weaker sections. According to officials, the policy follows persistent grievances that certain state-employed doctors were giving preference to their private establishments during working hours, resulting in neglect of patients at public hospitals.
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