Prayagraj, Jan 10 : Concerned about government doctors neglecting their duties in state medical colleges and hospitals, the Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to implement a policy prohibiting private practice by doctors employed under provincial medical services and in district hospitals across the state.
The directive came during a hearing on a writ petition filed by Dr. Arvind Gupta, the Head of the Department at Motilal Nehru Medical College, Prayagraj. Dr. Gupta faced allegations of providing treatment at Phoenix Hospital, a private nursing home, while holding a government post.
Court’s Observations
Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal expressed concern over the widespread issue of government doctors referring patients to private facilities for monetary gain. He stated, “This menace undermines the quality of care in government hospitals and drags patients into private nursing homes unnecessarily.”
The court noted that the Government Order (GO) dated August 30, 1983, explicitly prohibits private practice by government doctors, with non-practicing pay or allowances provided as compensation.
Government’s Response
Following the court’s earlier direction on January 2, 2025, the principal secretary for medical health and education informed the court that instructions were issued on January 6 to all district magistrates to rigorously enforce the 1983 GO.
The court directed the principal secretary to submit a personal affidavit within two weeks detailing the enforcement of the GO. It also called for a comprehensive policy to eliminate private practice by government doctors across medical colleges, provincial medical services, and district hospitals.
Next Steps
The court has scheduled the case for further hearing on February 10, 2025, to assess the government’s compliance and progress on policy development.
This judgment highlights the need for stricter regulations to ensure government doctors focus on their public healthcare duties, addressing growing concerns about accountability and accessibility in the state’s health system.
