Govt to get tough with doctors practising privately

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 31

Taking stern view on the issue of some government doctors doing private practice, Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said strict action would be taken against those found guilty, including termination of service.

He said efforts were being made to fill vacancies of doctors and other para-medical staff. “We have taken serious view of private practice by government doctors in border area towns such as Pathankot, Nangal, Chandigarh, Panchkula and Ropar and transferred some of them. However, I want to make it very clear that the government will not hesitate in terminating the services of those who still continue,” he warned.

He said doctors on deputation too will be called back.

The minister said during the past over two years, the state government had opened 60 new health institutions. “In sharp contrast to the BJP regime, we opened these institutions only after sanctioning the posts of doctor, nurse and other para-medic staff required,” he said. He said within this period, 300 new posts of doctor had been sanctioned taking doctors’ cadre strength up to 1,897 from 1,597.

Despite the minister providing a detailed and satisfactory reply to the issues raised by BJP legislators — ID Dhiman, RR Kaundal, Vijay Agnihotri, Suresh Bhardwaj, Vikram Singh and Ravinder Ravi — the Opposition decided to stage a walk out.

They said laboratory testing had been outsourced and people were facing inconvenience and shortage of staff had hit services all across the state. He said the BJP, which during its tenure had failed to sanction and fill up any posts, had staged a walk out merely to fulfil a formality and there was no justification in their reaction. Speaker BBL Butail said during the debate on cut motions, it was not imperative for the minister to satisfy the query of every member. Giving details of healthcare in institutions opened by the BJP, he said no posts were sanctioned resulting in these centres not fulfilling the desired result. “A total of 10 first referral units were notified, for which not even a single post was filled, resulting in the people of remote and far-flung areas being denied quality healthcare at their doorstep,” he said. Thakur said a total of 7,750 Asha workers were being appointed to guide and take care of the health of pregnant women and new born.