The West Bengal state government has introduced a series of stringent measures aimed at regulating the private practice of government doctors. The new directives, released by the Health Department earlier this week, place significant restrictions on the ability of public health professionals to engage in private practice. These regulations aim to address concerns over the dual roles of doctors, especially in light of previous controversies involving doctors engaging in private practice during work hours.
Key Restrictions for Government Doctors
According to the new guidelines, government doctors are prohibited from engaging in private practice outside a 20-kilometer radius of their official workplace. This limitation applies to both full-time and part-time doctors working in public health services, and the government has made it clear that any private practice beyond this distance will require special approval. Additionally, doctors wishing to engage in private practice must first obtain a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) from the Director of Health Services (DHS) or the Director of Medical Education (DME).
In a further effort to regulate work schedules, the Health Department has also made it mandatory for government doctors to work a minimum of 42 hours per week, with no exceptions. This includes night on-call duties, where doctors cannot take a “day off” the following day if they have been on-call. Furthermore, the new guidelines specify that no more than one senior doctor from any unit can take leave at the same time to ensure that essential medical services are not disrupted.
Response to the Previous Controversies
This move comes after multiple complaints were raised during the RG Kar Hospital doctors’ strike, where several public health professionals were found to be working privately while on official duty. During this period, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had pointed out that, according to her records, 563 doctors were found to be engaging in private practice during the protest. This sparked a heated debate about the ethics of government doctors running private practices while still collecting salaries from public hospitals.
In response to these allegations, the West Bengal government has stepped up its efforts to curb this practice, putting in place tighter monitoring mechanisms. The new regulations reflect a broader push to ensure that government doctors remain focused on their public service responsibilities and do not overextend themselves through private work that could lead to a conflict of interest.
Challenges and Implications for Doctors
While the new rules have been met with support from some quarters for their intent to maintain focus on public health, others see these regulations as burdensome. Many government doctors argue that private practice is an essential way for them to supplement their income, particularly in a state where salaries for medical professionals may not always be sufficient to meet their financial needs. The restriction of practicing outside a 20-kilometer radius is also seen as limiting by many, especially those who work in rural or remote areas.
Additionally, obtaining an NOC for private practice could add a layer of bureaucracy, further complicating the process for doctors seeking to earn additional income outside their public service duties.
Enforcement of New Guidelines
The West Bengal Health Department has stressed the importance of compliance with these new guidelines, emphasizing that any violation could lead to disciplinary actions. By placing more stringent checks on private practice, the government hopes to ensure that doctors prioritize their public duties while also addressing public concerns regarding their dual roles.
With these new regulations, the West Bengal government aims to maintain the integrity of its public health system by curbing the unchecked private practice of government doctors. While the policy seeks to balance the interests of both public service and private income, it remains to be seen how these measures will impact the working conditions and financial stability of government doctors in the long term.