Ban on private practice of HoDs of GMCs

Can it improve the health sector, as state proper health infrastructure?

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Jan 17: In its first meeting after taking charge as Health Minister, Taj-Mohi-Ud-Din today ordered ban on the private practice by Head of Departments (HoD), Government Medical College (GMC) and associated hospitals.

An order to this effect was issued by Commissioner-Secretary, Health & Medical Education, M. K. Dwivedi today.

While the government has banned the private practice of the doctors in Jammu and Kashmir, but it has put question mark on the need for such a decision at a time when government run institutions have failed to deliver.

The situation is dismal in rural areas as even the health centres running under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), there is no availability of equipments and other required infrastructure, besides this the staff appointed is also not adequate.

Coupled with the manpower shortage and lack of facilities, for most of the people, private clinics was the last destination for them to seek medical advise. Most of the hospitals are overcrowded in the state and people prefer to visit the private clinics, but the order by the government has put people in problems.

Wishing anonymity a doctor posted in a Primary Health Centre (PHC) said that the government has provided us limited infrastructure and staff is also less; we have to manage all patients within this condition. Showing helplessness she said many times we have sent demands for medicine and staff but nothing has been done so far.

“This decision is just a showcase, but actually the condition of hospitals in the state is very grave. I don’t think banning the private practice of the doctors will help masses in anyway”, said a senior doctor.

Visiting any of the hospitals in the state, it can been seen that wards are overcrowded and when the doctors refuse admission to patients, they have no choice but to get admitted in private hospitals.

Talking about the SMGS hospital, a senior government official said that government had a proposal to convert the hospital into the exclusive mother and child care hospital, by shifting both the dermatology and ENT departments from here to the Government Medical College (GMC), but they have no resources to implement it.

“On an average 500 patients attend the different Out Patient Departments (OPDs). As per official records, the hospital also receives 80-100 indoor patients on daily basis”, said a source.