The Kerala government amended the previous regulations pertaining to the conduct of public officials by introducing new norms that control the private practice of physicians working for the state’s health services. These new regulations seek to uphold moral principles and avoid any possible conflict of interest between a physician’s official responsibilities in public hospitals and their private practice.
The guidelines state that government physicians are not allowed to practice privately within a one-kilometer radius of the hospital where they are employed. A caveat is granted, nonetheless, if the private practice is carried out in their residences or in the hospital’s official quarters where they work. This rule’s justification is to avoid circumstances in which physicians would switch their emphasis from serving the public to their own private practices or refer patients there in order to benefit themselves.
Furthermore, the guidelines state that government physicians are not permitted to open private offices in buildings owned by businesses or in spaces connected to labs, imaging centers, hospitals, or pharmacies. This will probably guarantee that physicians don’t own financial interests in other healthcare companies, which can encourage unethical recommendations or services.
Furthermore, the feasibility of complex medical operations outside of government facilities is limited because doctors are only permitted to use basic diagnostic tools and equipment in their private practices. Dental professionals are an exception to this regulation, as they are allowed to utilize dental chairs and the bare minimum of dental equipment required for their profession.
The rules also stress that physicians cannot send patients for services like injections or other treatments from their private practice to government organizations, including the hospital where they work. This is to make sure that patients or private practices do not profit from the use of government resources. Furthermore, it is strictly forbidden for physicians to use government hospital supplies, equipment, or medications for their private practices.
Physicians must provide proof of residency for private practice sites in order to assure compliance with these regulations. Acceptable paperwork includes an Aadhar card, a building tax receipt if the doctor owns the property and resides there, as well as an electricity, water, and phone bill. In the event that these records are not available, a proof of residency issued by the building’s local self-government organization is required.
By guaranteeing that physicians commit their time and resources to their public responsibilities while upholding openness in their private practices, these new rules are anticipated to enhance the integrity of government healthcare services.
SOURCE :
TIMES OF INDIA
