Nagaland Govt cracks the whip on govt docs: stop private practice within a month

The State government has directed that all the private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes not engage any serving government doctors, nurses in their establishments

The Nagaland Government is talking tough. It has tightened the noose on all those serving government doctors who are also indulging in private practice.

Cracking the whip, the state government has given all such doctors a month’s time to stop the private practice or either leave their government service or face consequences, Commissioner and Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department, Y Kikheto Sema said today.

Addressing a press meet in Kohima, Y Kikheto Sema said that the State Health Department has taken the decision following a series of meetings with the concerned medical officers at various levels and also the directive of the Lokayukta issued to the department in March 2010.

The Health Department has also issued a 5 points Office Memorandum (OM) on 31 July after a series of meetings with the concerned medical officers, Medical associations and a directive from the Nagaland Lok Ayukta Government.

Here are the five points mentioned in the Office Memorandum:

1.All in-service government doctors whether availing or not availing NPA and having their own hospitals and doing private practices are against rules and regulations of the government, therefore, they have been ordered to close their facilities or disassociate from such partnerships within a month.

2.All in-service government doctors who are receiving NPA and working in private hospitals or clinics must quit working or give up their NPA within one month of the date the OM was issued.

3.In-service government doctors not availing NPA may be allowed to give private consultations and services with prior approval of the competent authority to the needy patients strictly during non-working hours.

4.It directed that all the private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes not engage any in-service government doctors, nurses, technicians and health workers in their establishments. Failure to comply with this directive, their license shall be liable for cancellation.

5.Further, the OM stated that instances have also come to the notice of the government that some in-service government doctors/health workers are irregular in their place of posting which hampers the Health Care delivery system in their respective health units. In the event of a report of absence from the place of posting without proper leave permissions from the competent authority, action will be initiated as per the Nagaland Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1968 and the Nagaland Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1967.

“It was the burning desire of the department to address this issue. Despite several notifications from the Finance Department, the Nagaland Health Care Establishment Act,1977 and related instructions are issued from time to time. It has however been observed that inane instances these laid down instructions are not being compiled in letter and spirit. The issue has also been adversely considered by Nagaland Lokayukta,” said Sema.

Sema informed that the State government is spending around Rs.9 crore annually on NPA and as per Lokayukta, 51 employees are availing NPA and privately practising.

He also said that the department along with the Nagaland Medical Council will undergo surprise inspection in all the health institutions across the state.

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