'Ban private practice only in stages'

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 12. Private practice of Government doctors should be banned only in stages and after revising their salary and allowances, according to the former chief secretary, Mr. T. N. Jayachandran.

Inaugurating a discussion on "Government doctors and private practice" organsied by East Thycaud Nagar Residents Association here today, Mr. Jayachandran, who had headed the one-man committee appointed by the Government to look into the issue of private practice, said the doctors who accept money from patients admitted to Government hospitals were indulging in "malpractice".

Pointing out that only five per cent of the Government doctors were doing private practice, Mr. Jayachandran said he is still of the firm opinion that it should be banned.

"The order issued by the former Health Minister, Mr. V. C. Kabeer, banning private practice of Government doctors was unwise", he added.

But, it should be after revising the salary and allowances of the Professors and other doctors of the Medical Colleges to that of the doctors of the All India Institute of Medical Science.

Society hospitals should be set up in the paywards and doctors of the Medical College who work at these hospitals should be provided renumeration, he added.

Pointing out that the interaction between the teachers and the students in the medical colleges was on the decline by the day, Mr. Jayachandran suggested spreading of the Out Patient timings to the evening also at Medical Colleges.

The former chief secretary said only his recommendation of banning private practice for doctors of the Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, had been implemented so far.

Mr. Jayachandran suggested a licencing system to check the mushrooming of private hospitals in the State and introduction of the concept of family doctors. The patients who call on family doctors should give registration and consultation fees and the Government should extend financial assistance to such doctors.

He also urged the authorities to see that all medical college hospitals, district and taluk hospitals in the State are referral to ensure better medical care and treatment.

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