Private practice policy remains unchanged until Govt notification; AGMC Teachers' Forum

Agartala: Private practice by doctors and faculty members of the Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital will continue under the existing policy until the Tripura Government issues an official notification on the proposed ban, the AGMC Teachers’ Forum has said.

As per the news reports, the decision was taken at an Executive Committee meeting of the AGMC Teachers’ Forum held on July 6 under the chairmanship of the Forum’s president. During the meeting, concerns were raised surrounding the reported proposal to prohibit private practice by doctors and teaching staff associated with AGMC and Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital.

Also Read:Tripura bars private practice, grants 20 percent NPA to AGMC, GBP Hospital Doctors

In a statement issued after the meeting, the Forum said that, based on the information available to it, no formal government notification implementing the proposed restriction had been issued as of the date of the meeting.

"In the interest of ensuring uninterrupted patient care and public service, the existing policy permitting optional private practice shall continue to remain in force until an official Government notification or directive is issued by the competent authority," the statement said, reports India Today NE.

The Forum also urged its members to continue performing their professional duties with dedication and discipline while following existing government rules and regulations.

The statement comes amid growing discussions in Tripura over a possible move to prohibit private practice by government doctors and medical college faculty members. The proposed restriction has been under consideration as part of efforts to regulate the functioning of government healthcare institutions and ensure the availability of doctors for public services.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that following the Tripura Government's decision to ban private practice by faculty members and medical officers at Agartala Government Medical College and GB Pant Hospital, a forum of superspecialist doctors has written to the hospital authorities, describing the move as ''unilateral''.

The AGMC Teachers’ Forum maintained that any modification to the existing policy can only come into effect after a formal order is issued by the competent authority.

Also Read:Tripura doctors' forum opposes private practice ban, calls move 'Unilateral'