JnK health dept lifts ban on private practice of two government doctors

Srinagar: Ten months after two doctors were banned due to allegations of indulging in private practice across the state, the Jammu and Kashmir Health & Medical Education Department recently lifted the ban on these two doctors from the Government Medical College Baramulla.

The decision was made after the inquiry committee provided a detailed report based on a careful examination of the issue. The doctors were prohibited from conducting private practice across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

In February this year, the health department took action against Dr Zafarullah, an Assistant Professor of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Dr Shafaqat Ahmad Lone, an Associate Professor of ENT at GMC Baramulla. This was in response to reports suggesting that they were redirecting patients from public hospitals to private healthcare facilities for personal gain.

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An order issued by the Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Health & Medical Education Department on December 15 mentioned, “On the recommendations of the inquiry committee constituted vide GO dated 23.1.2023 which has been accepted by the competent authorities, it is, hereby, ordered that the ban imposed by the Department in respect of the two doctors is revoked with immediate effect.”

Further, the order reads, "the concerned doctors are warned not to indulge in luring patients from public to private hospitals for availing treatment/benefits under AB-PMJAY & SEHAT Schemes etc. for any occasion in future when the same are available in government health institutions. Otherwise, disciplinary action as warranted under rules shall be initiated against them without any further notice."

Aside from the issue of doctors practicing privately, the Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department has recently received information about medical officers accused of enjoying benefits equivalent to GMC Srinagar staff, including Non-Practising Allowance (NPA), contrary to established guidelines.

Recently, the Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, submitted a list of 62 Medical Officers (MOs) to the Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department who have exceeded their designated stay periods in associated hospitals. These doctors, deployed from the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, range from 5 to 24 years in their stay duration.

As per the Daily Excelsior report, the GMC underscores the scarcity of Medical Officers in associated hospitals and suggests replacing the current MOs with a new batch from the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir. The new recruits would operate under standard deputation rules and terms and conditions. The GMC contends that these long-staying doctors, by pursuing varied interests, impede the smooth functioning of the administrative setup on weak grounds.

Highlighted cases include a doctor posted at Govt Psychiatric Disease Hospital, Srinagar, since 1999, with a 24-year stay, and two more doctors with similar lengthy tenures at Super Speciality Hospital and SMHS Hospital. Six doctors on the list have stayed for over 20 years, with the minimum being a 5-year stay at Govt Lalla Ded Hospital since 2018.

“Having stayed in the associated hospital for a pretty long time, these Medical Officers enjoy perks at par with the Govt Medical College Srinagar staff, i.e., remain posted at a single place/also avail long leaves during winters on one pretext or another,” reads the letter.

To view the official Government Order, click on the link below:

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