Karnataka Restricts Private Practice of Government Doctors to OPD Only to Ensure Public Hospital Services
Bengaluru: Responding to a question raised in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly regarding disruption in medical services at government hospitals, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said the Health Department is making arrangements to ensure round-the-clock (24×7) services at taluk hospitals through the re-deployment and rationalisation of doctors.
The minister was replying to a query raised by MLA Shivalingegowda, who flagged public inconvenience caused due to interruptions in doctors’ availability at government hospitals.
Clarifying the government’s policy on private practice by government doctors, Dinesh Gundu Rao said that under existing government orders, government doctors are permitted to engage in private practice after official duty hours, provided such practice does not interfere with their government responsibilities.
However, the government has now restricted private practice strictly to Out-Patient Department (OPD) services. Government doctors will no longer be permitted to treat in-patients (IPD) in private hospitals or nursing homes, the minister informed the House.
Explaining the rationale behind the decision, the minister said in-patient care requires continuous medical supervision, regular monitoring, and follow-up, which becomes difficult when government doctors simultaneously attend private IPD cases. This, he said, has led to disruptions in government hospital services and adverse consequences for patients.
Senior officials, including the Hon’ble Lokayukta, have previously flagged instances where neglect of patient care in government hospitals resulted in serious complications and, in some cases, even deaths, the minister noted.
He further pointed out that the Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission, in its report, had recommended regulating private practice by government doctors to ensure priority to public service delivery.
Drawing a comparison with other states, the minister said Kerala has already implemented similar restrictions, allowing government doctors to engage only in OPD private practice under strict conditions.
In light of these factors, the Health and Family Welfare Department has issued a fresh order, reiterating earlier guidelines and formally prohibiting government doctors from providing IPD services in private hospitals.
Under the revised rules, government doctors may engage in OPD-based private practice only after official working hours, without affecting assigned duties, and must declare full details of such practice to the government.
The minister warned that violations of these conditions will invite legal action and disciplinary proceedings under the Karnataka Civil Services Rules.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ವೈದ್ಯರ ಖಾಸಗಿ ಸೇವೆಯನ್ನು OPD ಮಟ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಸೀಮಿತಗೊಳಿಸಿದ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸರ್ಕಾರ
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