Srinagar, Feb 27: The medicos of Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar and associated hospitals are mulling to start a signature campaign against government’s proposed move to impose blanket ban on private practice of doctors.
 Sources told Greater Kashmir the doctors raised the issue at a meeting of the Medical Faculty Association (MFA) here on Monday. “During the meeting deliberations were held on various issues and it was unanimously decided that a state level signature campaign will be started to invite opinion from various quarters about private practice of doctors that pertains to people’s healthcare,” they said.
 According to sources the medicos were of the opinion that there was a gross disparity in the pay scale, promotions and status of the faculty members that is compensated through private practice. “But, the ban will deprive patients from multiple and better choice of consultations and treatment plan,” the medicos said.
 The experiment to ban private practice had been embarked upon by the government twice in the past. However the government order was challenged in 1986 by way of writ petition titled Dr S N Dhar & others V/S State of J&K. The High Court had directed the government to allow the private practice of doctors by way of SRO 42 on January, 1987.
 In 1995 also government again rescinded the permission for private practice. Later government again permitted in a notification the private practice for doctors in 1998 after observing that the general public had to face difficulties, but it was subjected to restrictions and conditions provided in the notification.
 “We spend time at our private clinics after duty hours in hospitals for the needy patients. We treat them at minimal remunerations fixed by the Government from time to time. We charge consultation fees as prescribed under Government order 308 HME of 2006 Date 17-05 -2006 and Government order 89 HME of 2012 Date 03-02-2012 ( for treatment and diagnostic facilities),” a senior faculty member told.
 Recently the Minister for Health Sham Lal Sharma disclosed that government was considering ban on private practice of all doctors working in government hospitals.
 “It is a policy matter but it is under active consideration of the government,” he had said.
 On the issue most of the doctors, to whom this reporter spoke to believe the valley will loss good specialists. “We are getting good salary package outside and if the government will implement the ban, most of the specialists would prefer to go out,” they said.
 Besides this, the MFA also deliberated upon others agendas including reservation in promotional benefits, rate fixed for private diagnostic clinics and drug policy.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 IST