Srinagar, Feb 4,KNT: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Friday welcomed the expert panel report to ban private practice of doctors in medical colleges.

A committee of medical experts constituted on the directions of Jammu and Kashmir High Court in its report has recommended a blanket ban on private practice of doctors in medical colleges.

The committee comprised of Prof Y.K. Chawla – Former Director PGI, Chandigarh, Prof Showkat Ali Zargar – Former Director SKIMS, Srinagar, Prof Kaisar Ahmad – Former Principal Govt Medical College, Srinagar and Prof Ravi Gupta- ex- Medical Superintendent GMCH, Chandigarh.

Urging JK government to implement the recommendations of the committee, DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan said private practice has eaten away our premier health institutions which not only are crucial life-saving assets, but also full time centers for medical education and research.

Dr Hassan said the academic character of the health institutions has got damaged and profession of healthcare has got affected by private practice.

“There is no provision of private practice of doctors working in teaching hospitals as they have a huge responsibility of patient care, teaching and research,” he said.

The DAK President said government doctor is a government servant all the 24 hours of the day, round the clock and does not cease to be one during the spare hours when he/she is away from duty.

“Permitting private practice at any time in the day is bound to affect the discharge of official duties by government doctors,” he added.

Vice-President DAK Dr Mir Mohd Iqbal said it is ironic that full-time government doctors are allowed to run private hospitals depriving poor and underprivileged of essential healthcare.

“Doctors concentrate their attention and work effort on private practice at the expense of public hospitals,” he said.

General Secretary DAK Dr Arshad Ali said doctors use public hospitals as recruiting grounds for their private practice and orchestrate scenarios to generate business for their clinics.

“The dual practice creates a pervasive incentive for doctors to increase waiting times at government hospitals so that patients are forced to go to private clinics,” he said.

Spokesperson DAK Dr Riyaz Ahmad Dagga said private sector should grow, but not at the cost of public health sector.

“Private hospitals can’t run their business by hiring government doctors who are appointed full-time for public sector,” he said adding “time has come to segregate health sectors and doctors have to decide whether to work for private or public health sector.” (KNT)