SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Sept 21: The newly elected body of Jharkhand Health Service Association (JHSA) has welcomed the nod of health minister Banna Gupta on the private practice of state government doctors.
JHSA president Dr PP Shah and secretary Dr Thakur Mritunjay Kumar Singh today in a joint statement highly appreciated the stand of health minister and additional chief secretary (ACS) health Arun Kumar Singh over private practice and expressed hope that other demands of government doctors too would be solved soon.
“The tripartite meeting’s ( Sept 19) minutes issued by state government now clears that any government doctor can do private practice after his official duty hour”, said Dr Shah and Dr Singh.
Releasing tripartite meeting’s proceeding, the state government has allowed private practice on conditions that doctor would attend only four private hospitals attached with Ayushman Bharat Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Yojna, he would have to give three months prior information about changing the name of selected private hospital and would have to provide equal (50-50) service at government as well as private hospital.
Moreover, JHSA president Dr Shah and secretary Dr Singh said that all conditions are positive but 50-50 service at government hospital and private nursing home clause is not cleared.
“JHSA would try to clear the confusion and make it practical after consultation with health minister and additional chief secretary health,” they said.
The JHSA office bearers said it looks confusing as a programme officer of district loaded with works can’t operate in government hospital during duty hours. But at the same time, he can provide his service in emergency at private hospital after duty hour where all facilities for operation is available. So it is not possible to give 50-50 service in government hospital and private practice.
“Health service is an emergency service. Government doctors labour hard to provide health services in remote areas of state. Jharkhand has set record in cataract operations in the country . This record has been possible on the contribution of expert doctors who are though in limited numbers in state , did it by giving service through private hospitals attached with Ayushman bharat,” they said.
JHSA president and secretary expressed concerned that rather rewarding them for this outstanding achievement, departmental action has been initiated against them. They said JHSA appeal the government to reconsider their contribution and absolved from the charges.
Dr Saha and Dr Singh said recommendation for cancellation of registration of absentee medical officer is not legally justified. The government should rethink over it . “JHSA would work in coordination with government for improvement of health services in state,” they said.
