Srinagar, Jan 20: Faculty of the government-run medical and dental colleges in Jammu and Kashmir Sunday took a strong exception to the government order banning private practice by Heads of Departments, saying “the government is punishing them for their services.” The protest by medicos comes barely three days after the Minister for Health and Medical Education Taj Mohi-ud-Din ordered complete ban on private practice by HODs in Medical and Dental colleges in the State.
 The Medical Faculty Association (MFA) Sunday said the ban on private practice by senior faculty, working as HoDs, amounts to “grueling them despite their enormous contribution in teaching, research and patient care.”  “All the cadres of MFA, from lecturers to professors, will defend the interests of HoDs and will protest against the policy of divide and rule,” the General Secretary of the Association, Dr Sajad Majeed Qazi told Greater Kashmir.
 He said the ban on private practice of HoDs amounts to punishing them for serving people and the departments in difficult times. “The private practice of doctors is extremely vital and the government needs to observe it from all possible perspectives,” Dr Qazi said.
 The MFA has decided to present a memorandum to Taj seeking revocation of the Government order.
 He said the HoDs were just 6 percent of the faculty members. “How will the ban improve healthcare facilities at GMCs, GDCs and their associated hospitals?” Dr Qazi asked.
 He said the government should improve the infrastructure in the hospitals rather than “targeting doctors.”
 According to MFA the HoDs do private practice at the cost of their own time outside working hours. “The time is available to the needy patients at minimal remunerations as fixed by the government from time to time.” “Denying patients consultation from experts of their choice will push them to the hands of quacks and mobile consultants,” the MFA statement said.
 It also expressed displeasure on the remarks of the Doctors Association Kashmir welcoming the Order.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST