Allow private practice or offer allowances: Doctors

Hyderabad: While the state government has recently issued ‘Amendment to Telangana Medical Education Services’ for filling up over 12,000 vacant posts in health department, which ‘unilaterally’ put a ban on private practice by government doctors, doctors have outright rejected the idea.

Criticising the move, the doctors demanded atleast 50% non-practice allowance (NPA) if government wants to implement ban on private practice for doctors. All healthcare associations in the state have decided to hold a meeting on Sunday to discuss on their plan of action for pressing the government to roll back the ban or implement NPA.

“Currently, 20 states have banned private practice, but they are offering 30% NPA. If government wants to ban private practice, 50% NPA should be given,” said Dr Praveen, government doctors association.

Interestingly, the ban on private practice was lifted in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh in the year 2002 on recommendation of a government appointed committee. “The committee said that by allowing doctors to do private practice, the availability of specialist doctors can be available in the rural areas. It will also prevent the specialist doctors from joining corporate hospitals,” said Dr Mahesh Kumar from Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association.

“It is clear that the government does not want any direct recruitments. Also contract doctors are paid 1.2 lakh salary which is much more than what is offered to us. By cutting down on direct recruitments, government can steer clear of pension and timely payment of salaries,” said a doctor.