No more Private practice for Govt Doctors in Andhra Pradesh

Amaravati: In order to strengthen the health facilities at the Government hospitals, the Andhra Pradesh cabinet has decided to ban the private practice performed by government doctors in the state.  

As per a media report in the Hindu, the officials of the medical and health department have been directed by the cabinet to prepare guidelines and make a road map for the same, Information and Public Relations (I&PR) Minister Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani).  

The Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported a story where the Andhra Pradesh government was considering issuing a ban on the private practice of government doctors starting from the private health centers (PHC) to government general hospitals (GGHs), with an aim toward efficient and smooth-running healthcare services in public hospitals.

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The cabinet meeting was headed by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at the Secretariat on Thursday.

Mr. Nani said that the state government received feedback from the public stating that the services in government hospitals would improve if the private practice done by government doctors are curtailed. It was observed that the practicing doctors were close to the government hospitals and working in private hospitals, which was not acceptable under any circumstances. 

Minister said that the government in the notification for filling up vacancies clearly mentioned the salary and other perks whereas the doctors, who were competing for government jobs, were aware of the paychecks in the private sector. Observing that the doctors were not expected to compare after joining the government service, he said that the government expected them to work as per the requirements. 

Minister said that the government intends to make the government medical and healthcare more acceptable, and banning the private practice was seen as a step in that direction. As per the Hindu report, he said, "We are hopeful that we would be able to convince the doctors."

Meanwhile, Mr. Nani also announced that the Cabinet had approved the allotment of lands to the hospitals for strengthening the health sector. Five acres of land was allocated for a hospital with all modern facilities at Kallur village in Kurnool, a super specialty/multi-specialty hospital in Kakinada Urban would be coming up in five acres, around 4.5 acres were allocated in Vizianagaram under Health Hub through APIIC and another four acres were allotted in Anantapur and 4.32 acre in Srikakulam. 

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