Govt docs suspended for running pvt clinics

Three senior doctors of Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital in Hari Nagar, West Delhi, have been suspended for running private clinics during duty hours.

Three senior doctors of Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital in Hari Nagar, West Delhi, have been suspended for running private clinics during duty hours.

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After initial enquiries by the health department, all three employees were issued suspension orders on Saturday.

Dr YK Handu, head of burns and plastic surgery unit, Dr Shivlata Gupta, gynaecologist, and Dr Bisht, head of the ear-nose-throat (ENT) were drawing non-practicing allowance up to Rs 25,000 from the state exchequer as part of their salary for the last several years.

“In a CD which is with the health department shows the doctors accepting fee from patients. The clips also show the doctors asking them for payments against treatments and surgeries done in the hospital, which is also illegal as doctors are supposed to treat patients for free in a government hospital,” said a government official, requesting anonymity.

After the doctors were caught doing private practice, they sought voluntary retirement but the Delhi government turned down their applications.

“After initial enquiry, we have taken appropriate action and the matter has been referred to the central vigilance department for further probe,” said Dr AK Walia, Delhi’s health minister.

Walia said that new doctors will be recruited soon to fill the vacant posts in the hospital. “We were notified about the suspension orders about two-three days back and it is pending enquiry,” said a senior official at DDU.