Private practice of government doctors in Kerala under lens again

Private practice of government doctors in Kerala has come into focus again with the Directorate of Medical Education recently suspending a nephrologist attached to the Government Medical College, Kozhikode, on the charge, amid reports about the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) intensifying inspections to check the activity

Private practice of government doctors in Kerala has come into focus again with the Directorate of Medical Education recently suspending a nephrologist attached to the Government Medical College, Kozhikode, on the charge, amid reports about the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) intensifying inspections to check the activity.

The Kerala Government had issued an order in the last week of December 2023 clarifying in no uncertain terms that government doctors would not be allowed to engage in private practice. This came against the backdrop of complaints that doctors in government hospitals, including in medical college hospitals, were working in private clinics and often performing surgeries in private hospitals.

Reports on the suspension of M. Sreelatha of the Nephrology department at the Kozhikode medical college came thereafter.

As per government rules, government doctors, except those in medical colleges, are allowed to offer consultation at their residences. But, they are barred from treating patients who need hospital admission.

It has been alleged that some government doctors are seen working in private hospitals after their duty hours in the evenings and during night. There are also reports about some gynaecologists setting up scanning facilities at their residences and offering treatment.

Some other doctors have been accused of running medical labs in others’ names alongside their private clinics. It has been claimed that those who approach such private clinics are given priority in admission to government hospitals and medical college hospitals.

This is happening at a time when patients are forced to spend days to get their surgeries scheduled at these places. A section of patients also claim that some government doctors leave their hospitals early to reach the private hospitals, denying their services to the needy.