Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, July 28: After the reports of the State Health Agency (SHA) in March this year, which showed their “lopsided performance” and “preferential allegiance” towards private hospitals, the Government today imposed a ban on the private practice of six doctors across J&K as they were found doing it during duty hours.
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As per details, three doctors from Kashmir were found involved in private practice during duty hours. These include Dr. Bilal Ahmad Bashir, Consultant Surgeon, GMC Anantnag, who has to his name 312 cases during official duty hours.
Another doctor named is Dr. Ishaq, Medical Officer, District Hospital, Pulwama, who has seen 170 cases during duty hours, and Dr. Younis Kamal, Associate Professor, Orthopaedics, GMC Anantnag, who has to his name 185 patient cases during duty hours.
Those from Jammu who have been found involved in unethical referrals to private Empanelled Health Care Providers (EHCPs) and are now facing a ban include Dr. Vikas Gupta, Medical Officer, CHC Hiranagar, who has referred 19 cases to private EHCPs.
Others are Dr Manju Kumari, Medical Officer from Vijaypur, who has referred 18 patient cases, and Dr. Raj Kumar Bhagat, Medical Officer, DH Samba, who has in his name 12 patient cases that have been referred to private hospitals.
The Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department stated that, prioritizing personal financial gains over public duty, these doctors have “compromised patient care,” undermined the integrity of the medical profession, and “failed to uphold the ethical and regulatory standards expected of public servants.”
The two reports which the SHA submitted in March this year are vide numbers SHA/ABPMJAY/JK/2024-25/10070 dated 18.03.2025 and SHA/AB PM-JAY/JK/2024-25/9605 dated 10.03.2025, both from the State Health Agency, J&K.
The ban order stated that the work-done report of these doctors submitted by the SHA showed they were more engaged in private practice than serving in public hospitals.
“Report…unequivocally establishes that despite being full-time Government employees, the aforementioned doctors engaged extensively in private practice, significantly outweighing their contribution to Government service, thereby undermining the objective of the AB-PMJAY/SEHAT Scheme.”
It has been further stated that the “data indicates a clear pattern of lopsided performance and preferential allegiance towards private hospitals, constituting gross negligence, conflict of interest.”
This, the order stated, resulted in serious threats to patient care, violation of patients’ rights, misappropriation of Government resources, and diversion of patients from Government health institutions.
It noted that an evaluation of the work performed under the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)/AB PMJAY SEHAT Scheme, conducted by the State Health Agency, Jammu and Kashmir, in respect of these doctors, revealed that they were engaged in private practice during official duty hours and were also involved in unethical referrals to private EHCPs.
Such acts, H&ME stated, amount to serious violations of the Jammu & Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules and other Government directives, which explicitly prohibit engagement in private practice during office hours and unethical referrals by Government medical personnel-particularly when such practices interfere with the discharge of official duties.
“In exercise of the powers vested in the Government under the applicable Service Rules and Conduct Regulations, it is hereby ordered that the following doctors are prohibited from engaging in any form of private practice throughout the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, with immediate effect.”
In case of non-compliance with this directive, H&ME stated, it will invite strict disciplinary action under the relevant Service Rules without any further notice.
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