Round-the-Clock Surgical Services Announced in State Budget
In a major healthcare reform, the Rajasthan government has announced an “After Hours Surgery” policy in its latest budget, mandating round-the-clock surgical services in government hospitals. The initiative aims to reduce long surgical waiting lists by allowing operations beyond regular working hours, including during the night.
The decision comes amid concerns over prolonged delays in public hospitals despite the presence of trained specialists and adequate infrastructure. According to official estimates, patients currently wait between two to four months even for minor procedures due to heavy patient footfall and limited operation hours.
Under the new policy, surgeries will be systematically scheduled after routine hospital timings to clear pending caseloads. The government believes that better utilisation of existing infrastructure and manpower will significantly improve access to timely surgical care.
To encourage participation, financial incentives will be provided to doctors and supporting staff who perform surgeries after hours. Although the exact incentive structure is yet to be finalised, it will cover surgeons, anaesthetists, and operation theatre personnel involved in perioperative care.
The payments for these incentives are likely to be drawn from package funds under the Ayushman Bharat–Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya Yojana. Officials believe this funding support will ensure smooth implementation of the extended surgical services without burdening hospital budgets.
To further strengthen surgical capacity, the government has announced the construction of 12 modular operation theatres across six major government hospitals. These include SMS Hospital and SMS Medical College in Jaipur, JLN Hospital, PBM Hospital, Maharana Bhupal Hospital, MBS Hospital, and Mathuradas Mathur Hospital.
Dr. Deepak Maheshwari, Principal of SMS Medical College, noted that SMS Hospital handles a massive daily patient load. He stated that the introduction of after-hours surgeries would play a crucial role in bringing down the waiting list.
Alongside incentives, the government has taken a strict stance against post-duty private surgical practice by government doctors. Medical Education Commissioner Naresh Goyal warned that while doctors performing after-hours surgeries in government hospitals will be encouraged, disciplinary action will be taken against those found operating in private facilities. Dr. Dheeraj Jaif, President of the Rajasthan Medical College Teachers’ Association, expressed support for the policy and said any violations should be dealt with as per rules.
