Keep the apron unsullied
The ailing poor generally turn to government hospitals for somewhat subsidized consultation and medication. Some doctors help patients financially and save their person, pocket & prestige. They don’t prescribe prolonged treatments or costly medicines. They listen to patients and boost them psychologically. Such people are praiseworthy.
To streamline the health services government has long ago banned private practice for government doctors. But the uncomfortable truth is that some doctors leave hospitals to juniors at times to attend private clinics which is in violation of service rules. Nonconforming behaviour is prohibited under Civil Service Conduct Rules, Classification, Control and Appeal Rules, FRs, SRs etc. Just after submitting the joining report showing expression of interest before the competent authorities concerned a government servant, irrespective of class and category of post, binds itself of all time requisites of that service.
One of the purposes of the restrictions is to address employment issue by leaving a scope for private players for creating a meaningful parallel and vibrant private sector. This is a division of labour in the lexicology of production and services where both sectors are expected to co-exist harmoniously for the establishment of a welfare state. Profession and perks are not to develop feelings of anomie among the incumbents but harbour soft attitude and strong concentration on duty. A government employee is a public servant round the clock and can be called to perform when the occasion demands. Doing private practice is outside the scope of sense of duty as a government employee.
Doctors must realize delicacy of the profession. Nothing short of a paradox that some doctors rue mismatch of doctor-patient ratio and complain of exhaustion due to workload of patients on one hand but are seen practicing smartly at private clinics in early morning and till late evening hours. This is emblematic of a fact that some of them hanker after amassing immense wealth.
Private doctors are either self-masters. Anybody wanting to become one among the richest, undergoing private business is the solution. One of the excuses for private practice is grant of non-practicing allowance (NPA). There appears to be no raison for grant of NPA to one class of public servants who are not different from other government employees.
To curb the malpractice government can invoke Rule 10 of J & K (Conduct) Rules 1971 (CSCRs) which says, “No Government employee whether on leave or active service, shall except with the previous sanction of the Government engage directly or indirectly in any trade or business or undertake any other employment”. The directions of J&K Hon’ble High Court in a Writ Petition (C) No.10/2021 titled Farooq Ahmad versus Union Territory of J & K and Others for implementing Rule 10 in letter and spirit can also be applied, mutatis-mutandis, in health service for stopping illegal practice and chances thereof. Sunshine Act may also be used. Much investment in the making of a doctor expects a quid pro quo. They are warriors fighting the disease and wardens protecting health, but breach of rules by some blot the profession.
The author is a former Sr. Audit Officer and Consultant in the A.G’s Office Srinagar.
