The state government of Bhubaneswar has directed all clinical establishments to disengage senior resident doctors from government medical colleges and hospitals, district headquarter hospitals, and other health facilities if they are found to be engaging in private practice. This is a decisive move to address a significant issue in the healthcare sector. In order to maintain the integrity of medical services and avoid potential conflicts of interest resulting from dual practices, Dr. Sachidananda Mohanty, Chairman of the State Regulatory Committee and Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET), has issued this direction.
The instruction states unequivocally that CEOs, chairpersons, and owners of private hospitals and clinical facilities must promptly remove resident physicians who practice privately from their positions. It highlights how important it is to follow this instruction and issues a warning about the possible repercussions for healthcare facilities and physicians who do not.
The Health Department’s efforts to keep MBBS graduates from government medical colleges working in the public healthcare system include this move. Prior efforts included mandating that private healthcare facilities get physician affidavits attesting to their adherence to bond requirements for post-PG care. The purpose of this change in bond requirements was to guarantee that newly graduated medical professionals who join private hospitals under the Odisha Clinical Establishment (Control and Regulation) Act meet their responsibilities and don’t break any bond terms.
Senior resident physicians play a critical role in government hospitals and medical schools in delivering high-quality patient care. On the other hand, concurrent private practice by these physicians may raise questions about potential conflicts of interest and patient care priorities. The government hopes to keep the emphasis on providing healthcare to the general population and avoid any potentially dangerous situations by disengaging resident physicians from private practice.
The order also emphasizes how clinical facilities are accountable for making sure these rules are followed. It demands that these policies be strictly enforced by deans, chief district medical and public health officers, directors of eminent healthcare organizations, and principals of medical colleges and hospitals. Effective implementation and monitoring of such regulatory measures require a coordinated approach involving multiple stakeholders.
The aforementioned project is indicative of a wider pattern in healthcare governance, wherein patient interests and the integrity of the healthcare profession are protected by prioritizing transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct. In tackling the problem of senior resident physicians engaging in private practice, the state government shows that it is dedicated to advancing a just and equitable healthcare system that places patient welfare and professional ethics at the forefront.
The instruction from the state government to exclude senior resident physicians from private practice in clinical settings is in line with larger initiatives to improve healthcare governance and guarantee the standard and integrity of medical care provided in Bhubaneswar and throughout the state of Odisha. In the end, this proactive strategy benefits patients and fosters trust in the medical profession by highlighting the significance of ethical behavior, responsibility, and openness in the healthcare sector.
SOURCE:
THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
