Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today expressed dismay over previous government’s appeal in Supreme Court against State High Court decision which imposed a ban on private practice of government doctors.
Asserting that private practice by doctors was the root cause of mess in government hospitals, President DAK Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan in a statement said that previous government’s decision to challenge the ban on private practice was unjustified.
The division bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court in a Public Interest Litigation on November 18, 2011 banned the private practice by government doctors.
Ironically, the state government filed special petition leave (SPL) before the Supreme Court to appeal against the decision.
“Ostensibly, governments have been noisy against the private practice, but actually they are facilitating it.
“On one hand, they cry in public rallies against this business of medicine, but on the other hand, they are allowing doctors to run their private clinics.
“Allowing private practice is against the regulations of MCI, that are mandatory by virtue of law,” said Dr Hassan.
“Also, under the provisions of service rules, doctors are not permitted to indulge in private practice.”
Private practice has badly hit patient care and has eaten away our medical institutions that not only are crucial life saving assets but full time centers for medical education and research, he said.
“The legislative committee constituted in 2012 to examine the increase in number of deaths in hospitals pitched for ban on private practice by government doctors. The commission which was set in 2012 to inquire GB Pant hospital deaths also called for complete ban on private practice,” said Dr Hassan.
“The previous attempts to ban private practice have been stalled by a strong lobby and they have misled regimens on this issue. We urge incumbent government to immediately ban private practice of government doctors, particularly in teaching hospitals, to end the sufferings of people.”
(CNS)