Tripura govt to bar govt doctors from private medical practice

Agartala, Jun 25 (PTI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday said the state government has decided to bar faculty members and medical officers of GBP Hospital and Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) from private practice to strengthen healthcare services at the state’s main hospital.
The council of ministers, in its last meeting held on Monday, has decided to bar faculty members and medical officers of GBP Hospital and AGMC in exchange for a 20 per cent hike in their basic pay as a non-practising allowance.
Addressing a government programme at Lalsinghmura in Sepahijala district, he said it has been noted that faculty members and medical officers who are employed at GBP Hospital and AGMC have an emotional attachment with private hospitals or clinics. “We have consulted with doctors, and also, there was a suggestion from AIIMS, New Delhi, to bar faculty members and medical officers of GBP Hospital and AGMC from private practice to further strengthen the healthcare services at the state’s main hospital. It will be implemented only at the premier hospital,” he said.
The state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AIIMS, New Delhi, to improve services at the GBP Hospital and AGMC.
Saha said the 7th CPC recommended curbing private practice of government medical college doctors and provide 20 per cent hike in their basic salaries as non-practising allowance. The chief minister said the government is contemplating to provide quarter facility to the faculty and medical officers of the premier medical institution.
Claiming that the state recorded an 80 per cent reduction in medical referral cases, he said the telemedicine service linking AIIMS, New Delhi, has been introduced so that patients could get better treatment facilities at GBP hospital. The chief minister said steps have been initiated to introduce more superspecialty departments at the hospital cum medical college.
“At present, the state has 550 MBBS seats and 113 PG seats in three medical colleges. A total of 83 more PG seats will be opened at GBP Hospital and AGMC. We are planning to open liver and heart transplant facilities at the hospital,” he said.