IPS officers to get annual tests at private hospitals

The home department on Tuesday issued a government resolution (GR) asking officials of the Indian Police Service (IPS) to get their annual medical tests done in “private hospitals”.

The home department on Tuesday issued a government resolution (GR) asking officials of the Indian Police Service (IPS) to get their annual medical tests done in “private hospitals”.

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A senior doctor in the state machinery told HT that IPS officers wanted “proper” treatment and felt that the state government-run hospitals were not up to the mark. “Government hospitals can conduct all the tests and are well equipped, yet we are ignored,” he said.

The GR, a copy of which is with HT, states that the IPS officers would have to undergo the tests from February 15 to March 15 and a copy of their tests would have to be sent to the director general of police’s (DGP) office. These tests were introduced in 2007-08 and are mandatory.

A private hospital in south Mumbai has been identified for officials serving in the Mumbai and Konkan region, while similar private hospitals have been listed for Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Amravati and Aurangabad region.

Former IPS officer YP Singh said medical tests should be held in a government hospital and there should be a medical board to conduct it. “An IPS officer’s performance is linked to their medical fitness and hence this is very important,” he said. He alleged that with medical tests being done in private hospital, there were chances of manipulation.

K Subramanyam, director general of police, was not available for comment.

When contacted, Umeshchandra Sarangi, additional chief secretary, home, said there was no specific reason for not choosing government hospitals. “The private hospital gave a proper executive package and hence we will be doing the tests there,” he said, adding, “Even government hospitals have all facilities.”