Vimsar medic's private practice just tip of the iceberg

  • | Friday | 21st July, 2017

The senior doctors do private practice during duty hours and it is no secret. "Visit SCB during noon hours or in the evening and you will only find postgraduate medical students in the wards. CUTTACK: Suspension of a doctor of VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (Vimsar), Burla , after he was allegedly caught doing private practice during duty hours by the institute's director has opened a Pandora's box. Like Vimsar, authorities should conduct raids at MKCG and SCB also, said Berhampur-based social worker Ram Kumar Patra However, authorities of both the medical colleges refuted the allegations. Besides, I also pay surprise visit to the wards to check presence of doctors," said Das.

CUTTACK: Suspension of a doctor of VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (Vimsar), Burla , after he was allegedly caught doing private practice during duty hours by the institute's director has opened a Pandora's box. Vimsar is not the only government-run medical college where the menace prevails, things are no better even at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, and MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur.Health minister Pratap Jena had paid a surprise visit to SCB on July 1 and had expressed serious displeasure after he found absence of doctors in the out- patient department. Even show-cause notices were issued to the erring doctors also. Similar was the situation in MKCG during Jena's visit last month. This speaks volumes about the seriousness of the problem.Health experts and civil society members have alleged that doctors of SCB and MKCG openly attend to patients in their private clinics during duty hours, which is illegal, due to lack of strict action against them. "Visit SCB during noon hours or in the evening and you will only find postgraduate medical students in the wards. The senior doctors do private practice during duty hours and it is no secret. Authorities and government are well aware of it but nobody dares to initiate action against the erring doctors," alleged Pravat Dash, who was a member of the committee formed by Orissa high court to take stock of healthcare facilities in the state."Doctors can easily practise after duty hours but in greed of making more money they conveniently neglect their government duty and poor patients pay the price for it," said Sudha Das , a patient undergoing treatment in medicine ward of SCB.For lakhs of poor patients, government medical colleges are the lone hope. Like Vimsar, authorities should conduct raids at MKCG and SCB also, said Berhampur-based social worker Ram Kumar Patra However, authorities of both the medical colleges refuted the allegations. "Our doctors are regularly and properly attending their duty," said Khetrabasi Subudhi, superintendent of MKCG.While principal of SCB Sidhartha Das claimed that a proper attendance record of doctors is maintained. "Every morning at 9.15 doctors of all the departments have to sign an attendance register which is forwarded to me at 10am. I personally verify the attendance register. Besides, I also pay surprise visit to the wards to check presence of doctors," said Das.

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