Kerala Govt sets new rules for private practice of doctors

Thiruvananthapuram: The govt has come out with a fresh set of guidelines for the private practice of doctors under the health services, amending the govt servants' conduct rules.

As per the guidelines, govt doctors shall not conduct private practice on premises within 1km radius of the hospital where they work, except when practising in their own house or in govt quarters of the hospital where they are working.

Govt doctors also should not make private practice in buildings constructed for commercial purposes or in a place attached to laboratories, scanning centres, medical institutions, and pharmacies.

The medical officer should use only the bare minimum of equipment and devices to diagnose the illness. However, the use of a dental chair and some minimal equipment is allowed in the case of dental doctors.

The medical officer should not send patients from their private practice to govt institutions or their place of work for any services like getting injections, administration of medicine or any such kind. Also, doctors should not utilise the medicines and other facilities in govt hospitals during their private practice.

The medical officer shall produce any of the documents such as an Aadhaar card, latest electricity bill, water bill, telephone bill, or latest building tax receipt if the building is owned by him and he is residing in that building. If none of these documents are available, the residence certificate issued by the local self-govt institution where the building is located has to be produced.