No Private Practice During Duty Hours! Karnataka Tightens Rules for Doctors
Private Practice Banned
Bengaluru: Strict measures have been implemented in Karnataka to curb private practice by the government doctors in the state. With this, Government doctors in Karnataka are not permitted to take up private practice during working hours for any reason, Karnataka Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil informed the Legislative Council. Besides, Minister Patil stated that the timing of the doctors' working hours has been revised from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The State has also introduced a biometrics attendance system for the government hospital staff to mark their attendance four times a day.
As per the Minister, the salaries of the Government doctors will now be processed based on their attendance and the State would also take disciplinary action against those who violate the rules.
Minister Patil informed about these rules while responding to a question by Congress MLC Balkhees Banu in the Legislative Council. The Minister acknowledged complaints stating that some government doctors were working at other places during duty hours, PTI has reported.
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Specifying the strict measures implemented by the Government to curb such practices adopted by government doctors, the Minister said, "There are complaints by patients that doctors are not available in government hospitals during working hours and are instead practicing in other places. I have issued strict instructions to the hospital heads to monitor such absenteeism and ensure doctors are available in the government facilities from 9 a.m. to 4 pm."
As per the latest media report by The Hindu, the Minister added, "Earlier, the working hours were from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. But, now the timings have been extended and the doctors must be available in their workplaces from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. There are complaints that some doctors come in an hour late and leave an hour early. To prevent this, we have introduced a biometrics attendance system, wherein the government staff in hospitals are supposed to mark their attendance four times a day - 9 a.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. Their salaries will be processed based on the attendance. Disciplinary action will be taken against those who violate these rules."
A notification has been issued to the heads of all government hospitals to follow the rules. Strict action will be taken against doctors who violate the rules.”
“From now, it is mandatory for doctors to mark their attendance four times a day through the biometric system. They have to do it at 9 am, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm. Their salaries will be paid based on this. Providing timely and proper treatment is the government’s top priority," he said, quoted TNIE
Apart from this, the Minister also informed that every hospital has been mandated to provide outpatient services and instructions have been issued to ensure necessary OPD facilities for patients. He stated that the quality of healthcare services in government hospitals was improving and steps were being taken to ensure no shortages.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that back in 2023, noting that a large number of government doctors were involved in private practice after their duty hours, the Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission -2 (KARC-2) had suggested the State to enforce a complete ban on private practice of government doctors of all departments.
Back then, the panel had opined that with the ban on private practice, the government hospitals may become able to start Out Patient Department (OPD) in the evening as well.
Also Read: Karnataka Reforms Panel suggests Complete Ban on Private Practice of doctors
