Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, June 13: To strictly enforce the ban on private practice of HoDs in Government Medical Colleges and Government Dental Colleges of the State, the Health and Medical Education Ministry has decided to raid the clinics and other places to ensure that the ban on private practice is adhered to.
Minister of Health and Medical Education Bali Bhagat told Excelsior that he has taken serious exception to private practice by HoDs of Medical Colleges and Dental Colleges of the State despite ban ordered in the year 2013.
Bhagat said that strict action warranted under rules will be taken against those HoDs who will be found doing private practice.
He said that the decision was taken after a question regarding the private practice of HoDs was raised in the State Assembly by some members recently and he was surprised to know that the ban is in force in the State since 2013 but it was not implemented.
He said soon he called Secretaries of the Department and directed them to issue a circular in this regard asking the Principals of Government Medical Colleges of the State as well as Dental Colleges to ensure that the ban on the private practice of HoDs is enforced in letter and spirit.
He said no body will be spared if found doing private practice.
The Minister said this will be followed by ban on private practice of teaching staff in Medical Colleges and Dental Colleges of the State like Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors as the same is must to streamline the functioning of Medical Colleges and Dental Collages in the State.
Showing grave concern over worsening system in the Medical and Dental Colleges of the State, Bhagat said that various hard steps will be taken to streamline it.
He said it is a matter of grave concern that when the order regarding ban on private practice by HoDs of Government Medical Colleges and Dental Colleges in the State was issue in 2013 “why the principals of these colleges have not complied the order till date”?.
He served an ultimatum to all such HoDs doing private practice to abandon it otherwise disciplinary action warranted under rules will be taken against them.
He said raids will be conducted within four or five days both in Srinagar and Jammu in this regard. Maintaining that he will not rest till worsening Health and Medical Education system in the State is streamlined, the Minster said though it will take some time but he will surely bring a change in the system.
Meanwhile, Health and Medical Education Department has issued a circular in this regard today asking the Principals of Medical Colleges, Dental Colleges as well as Medical Superintendents of concerned associated hospitals to ensure that HoDs of these colleges are not indulging in private practice.
The circular said the Government Order No 43-HME of 2013 dated 17-01-2013 makes it incumbent and binding upon the HODs of GMCs and GDCs and Associated Hospitals of the State not to indulge in private practice. The Circular urged the principals and Medical Superintendents of the Associated Hospitals to ensure that the order is complied in letter and spirit.
It further said that the Government will strictly monitor whether the order is being implemented or not and if any doctor concerned as per the Government order is found indulging in private practice, strict disciplinary action will be taken against him or her.
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