HYDERABAD: Finance and Health Minister K. Rosaiah's proposal to permit Government doctors posted in rural areas to do private practice received widespread support from political parties, barring the Telugu Desam, in the Assembly on Monday.

Responding to a question, Mr. Rosaiah said the Government was studying the issue as part of the reforms in health sector and would take a decision soon.

The ban on private practice had no effect as some of the Government doctors were anyhow having private practice. No case had been booked.

The proposal was aimed at attracting doctors to work in rural areas in Primary Health Centres (PHCs). He said the Government was not very successful in its attempts so far and the 1,000 vacancies of doctor posts in these centres could not be filled. This was despite the fact that it was now offering a permanent posting and an incentive of Rs. 3,000 a month in agency areas.

After taking appointment letters they were backing out and some of those who had joined wanted to return to cities.

At a meeting he held with over 22 legislators who had practised as doctors, there was near unanimity on allowing the Government doctors to practice privately. When a decision is taken after consulting all political parties, care would be taken to impose certain restrictions and make them strictly adhere to the timings.

TDP opposed

N. Janardhan Reddy (TDP) opposed the move saying it would affect the functioning of PHCs and result in exploitation of the poor. Ch. Venkat Reddy (CPI), N. Narsimhaiah (CPI-M) and G. Kishen Reddy (BJP) were guarded in their responses. TRS member Nagesh supported the move.

Congress members — D. Sridhar Babu, J. Ratnakar Rao and Diwakar Rao — wanted the Government to go ahead as the PHCs had good buildings but no doctors.

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