At many state-run medical colleges and hospitals, principals and superintendents have been illegally practicing medicine privately despite having taken non-practicing allowance (NPA) from the government for years.
According to government rules, principals and superintendents of 13 state-run teaching hospitals across the state are not allowed private practices because they belong to the administrative cadres in the state medical education service. The state government pays them NPA of about Rs. 10,000 every month.
“We are bringing out stringent rules to stop this practice among a section of government doctors, mainly general duty medical officers (GDMO), resident medical officers (RMO), principals and superintendents, who practice privately despite taking NPA. We have already alerted GDMOs and RMOs in this regard. But, I have no idea whether principals and superintendents of teaching hospitals violate government rules,” Chandrima Bhattacharya, minister of state for health, told HT on Monday.
Sources in the health department alleged that nearly 50% of the principals and superintendents carry on brisk business through private practice, either at clinics or nursing homes.
The principal of a medical college in north Kolkata, a senior obstetrician, practices at least three days a week, at a nursing home in a south Bengal district town. The principal of another medical college-cum-research institute in the city also practices privately at his own pathological laboratory in north Kolkata.
The anaesthetist at a new medical college in north Bengal, who is also the principal, also practices privately, mainly during surgeries at nursing homes. He mainly assists the surgeon by administering doses of anaesthesia on patients undergoing surgery. Besides this, several superintendents also have private practices at nursing homes, clinics and private hospitals.
{{/usCountry}}The anaesthetist at a new medical college in north Bengal, who is also the principal, also practices privately, mainly during surgeries at nursing homes. He mainly assists the surgeon by administering doses of anaesthesia on patients undergoing surgery. Besides this, several superintendents also have private practices at nursing homes, clinics and private hospitals.
{{/usCountry}}One superintendent, an ENT specialist at a medical college in north Bengal, also attends to patients at private clinics three days a week.
“We want to give our services by treating patients who want to utilise our specialisation and experience in the government sector and private sector healthcare. We never neglect our duties at our colleges,” said one errant principal, on the condition of anonymity. “We do not want NPA, but are eager to have private practices. We have also submitted a proposal in this regard,” he said.