Court Seeks Status Report from State Government
Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to take action against government doctors working in hospitals and medical colleges who are involved in private practice.
The court has also instructed the principal secretary (medical education), UP, to submit a personal affidavit detailing the status of government action, with the next hearing scheduled for March 26.
Case Origin and Court Observations
The directive was issued by Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal while hearing a petition filed by Dr. Arvind Gupta, Head of Department and professor at the state-run Moti Lal Nehru Medical College. The case stemmed from a complaint by Rupesh Chandra Srivastava before the state consumer forum, alleging wrong treatment by Dr. Gupta at a private nursing home in Prayagraj district.
Earlier, on January 8, the high court expressed concern over government doctors neglecting patients in medical colleges and hospitals due to private practice. It had directed the state government to introduce a policy to curb this practice.
Government’s Response and Court’s Concern
In compliance with the court’s earlier order, the principal secretary (medical education) filed an affidavit stating that reports from 37 district magistrates (DMs) had been submitted and were under review. However, the court noted that while previous affidavits mentioned disciplinary proceedings against doctors engaged in private practice, the latest affidavit lacked details on the progress of these proceedings.
The court urged the state government to expedite disciplinary action against such doctors, emphasizing that a strong message should be sent to ensure compliance, particularly in medical colleges and district hospitals.
Ban on Private Practice by Government Doctors
As per a government order dated August 30, 1983, government doctors are prohibited from engaging in private practice. Instead, they are entitled to non-practicing pay or allowances as specified by the government.
The court strongly criticized the trend of government doctors referring patients to private nursing homes for financial gain, calling it a serious issue that needs immediate attention. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for March 26.
