Govt wakes up to KV report
After Kashmir Vision reported that private practice is in vogue in many hospitals in Kashmir, including GB Panth—valley’s lone childcare hospital. Health and Medical Education Department has taken the cognizance of the issue and constituted the committee to make sure that there is complaince in this regard.
This newspaper had reported a story on July 15, 2017 titled ‘Valley’s lone child care hospital facing ‘private practice’ menace’ stating that attendants at GB Panth Hospital accused that the doctors who are meant to perform their duties in the hospital are indulged in private practice.
Following the report, the Health & Medical Education Department, J&K Government in statement, Monday said “a committee has been constituted to implement the Government order No.43-HME of 2013 dated 17-01-2013 and Circular No: 02-HME of 2016 dated 13-06-2016 regarding Ban on Private Practice upon all HOD’s in Government Medical Colleges, Government Dental Colleges and the Associated Hospitals of the state in letter and spirit.”
Principal Secretary, Health & Medical Education Department, Dr. Pawan Kotwal has been appointed as Chairman while as Director Health Services, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman, Director, AIDs Control Society, J&K Dr Mushtaq and Additional Secretary H&ME Department Naseer Ahmad, according to the statement, have been appointed as members of the committee.
As per the instruction of the state government there is blanket ban on private practice of medicos in the state. A year ago the state government had issued an order announcing blanket ban on private practice by heads of the departments of state medical and dental colleges, while threatening ‘strict disciplinary action’ against the violators.
The Circular 2 of 2016 dated 13-06-2016 reads, ‘HoDs in Government Medical Colleges, and Government Dental Colleges and Associated Hospitals of the state not to indulge in private practice.’ The said order warns that government would be ‘ensuring strict monitoring’, and also threatens strict action against the violators.
Medical Superintended, Dr. Kanwal Jeet Singh had also said that people are bringing up the issue of private practice; however, he said “we can’t help it,” with the statement issued by the ministry, people are expecting compliance from the violators.
KV Correspondent
