The New Nation - Internet Edition

PRIVATE practice by government-appointed doctors at government-run hospitals and other medical centres, has a long history. The country's greater number of poor patients come to the public hospitals and medical centres where they expect treatment at nominal costs or for free and, more significantly, sincere attention from the doctors. The doctors, on their part, are also the beneficiaries of highly subsidised medical education. The government appoints doctors at its medical centres for discharging service in exchange of the payment of salaries and other perks. A section of doctors appears to forget how they become qualified medical professionals at the public expense and remain away for their private practice neglecting their official duties in the public hospitals.

Such unconscionable practice on the part of the doctors has been defeating the aim to provide proper medical service to the poor and limited income group people. Allegations are there that doctors are found absenting from their duties while their agents tell the poor patients to go to their private chambers for better treatment. It was therefore, encouraging to note that a joint meeting of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Health Ministry on Saturday, declared that henceforth zero tolerance would be shown towards this malpractice. But how this decision will be enforced is a big question mark. Will it be again a callous slipping back to the old order of doctors doing private practice during their official duty hours. ACC must stress on policy continuity in this matter. Only tough and sustained law enforcement will likely be of any use in making doctors to take their duties in government medical centres seriously.