Govt panel to scrutinise doctors’ private practice, health sector reforms in J&K

Srinagar, Mar 2: In a significant move to overhaul the healthcare landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has constituted a high-level advisory committee to address the contentious issue of private practice by government doctors and recommend comprehensive reforms in the health sector.

To be headed by the Founding Director of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Dr Ajit Nagpal, the panel comprises notable personalities from the medical fraternity including Executive Director of the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Dr Atul Kotwal; Director of Coordination for New Government Medical Colleges in J&K, Dr Yashpal; and former Medical Superintendent of PGIMER Chandigarh, Dr Anil Kumar.

The committee would be supported by a Member Secretary, a Special or Additional Secretary nominated by the Health and Medical Education Department.

One of the key mandates of the panel is to “examine the issue of private practice by doctors in government services and recommend measures for its regulation, along with reviewing and optimising service conditions for doctors”.

The prevalent practice of government doctors engaging in private practice has long been a subject of intense debate in J&K, with stakeholders arguing both for and against it.

While some contend that it allows doctors to supplement their income and retain talent within the public sector, others argue that it adversely impacts the quality of care provided in government hospitals, leading to potential conflicts of interest.

The committee will suggest global best practices and their reinvention for adoption in J&K.

With a diverse range of experts and stakeholders on board, the recommendations of this advisory committee are expected to chart a comprehensive roadmap for transforming the J&K’s healthcare landscape, ensuring accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare for all residents.

The panel has been entrusted with a wide-ranging mandate, including formulating a roadmap for implementing the Chawla Committee’s recommendations, ensuring the holistic advancement of the health sector, conducting a comprehensive budget analysis, enhancing infrastructure, fostering community engagement, evaluating medical education, collaborating with medical institutions, and addressing issues related to private practice, service conditions, integration of different medical systems, human resource rationalisdation, technology integration, and adopting global best practices.

The committee would assess the existing physical infrastructure in the health sector and formulate recommendations for the expansion and enhancement of healthcare facilities, ensuring accessibility and quality services.

It would also provide insights into the modernisation of medical facilities, laboratories, and technology integration.

The Health Advisory Committee would serve for a term of one year or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

The committee would submit its recommendations to the government every quarter, providing a comprehensive overview of proposed measures, advancements, and priorities within the Health and Medical Education sector.