Private Practice by Government Doctors (Health) - Guidelines

GOVERNMENT OF KERALA Abstract

Health Services Department - Establishment - Private Practice by Government Doctors - Guidelines issued

HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (A) DEPARTMENT G.O.(MS) No.270/2005/H&FWD dated. Thiruvananthapuram, 25.. 10..05

where he ordinarily resides. He should not engage in private practice in a commercial complex.

3.          The doctors in Government service should not conduct private practice in private hospitals, clinics or in any other place other than his residence/ consultation room

4.          He should use only a bare minimum of equipments and devices to diagnose the illness.

5.          He should not procure or use equipments or devices for treating patients levying fee or charges on a commercial basis in the guise of private practice.

6.          He should not engage a nurse or technician for the purpose of assisting him in private practice.

7.          He should exhibit a sign board prominently in the consultation room stating that, no patient or his relative should come for consultation who is already an in-patient in the hospital where the doctor is serving. However the doctor will not be held responsible if any one violates this provision and approaches him for consultation without his knowledge.

8.          In-patients in Government hospitals( including all Government medical institutions) should not go in for consultation at the residence of Government doctors. Relative/ friend/ representative/we 11-wisher or bystander of patients also should not be deputed to Government doctors for private consultation on behalf of inpatient in the hospital where the doctor is serving.

A Board should be exhibited in all Government hospitals informing the

public that -

i           No payment need be made to any doctor for any service rendered in the hospital.

ii          They are not expected to visit the doctors at their residence for any service rendered in the hospital and

iii Demanding or offering money to doctors for services in a Government

Hospital are offences

9.          The doctors complain of harassment by the Police Officers, alleging acceptance of money while on private practice. Here after the doctors shall not be held responsible , if any patient or his

relative/ friend/ anybody else approaches the doctor at his place of residence for the purpose of private practice, as the doctor may not be able to identify or recognize all of them and confirm whether the patient for whom consultation is sought is an in-patient of the hospital where he is serving. They may exhibit a notice to the effect that, non in-patient in the hospital where he is serving shall come for consultation at his residence.

10.       Money should not be accepted for services rendered/proposed to be rendered in Government hospitals.

11.       During duty hours doctors, should not engaged in private practice.

12.       Doctors should not attend patients at private institutions

13.       Any person having a complaint of violations of these guidelines by any Government doctor shall sent such complaints to DM0/ Principal of the Medical College or any higher authority of the concerned Department. Complaints of violations of these guidelines received by any other authority shall also be referred to DM0 of the concerned Department/Principal of the concerned Medical College

14.       All complaints received regarding violations of these guidelines shall be referred to a committee consisting of following members

At the District level

President, District Panchayat.

DM0/ Principal. Medical College

Superintendent of Police.

A senior doctor in the concerned specialty, who will be nominated by the District Collector in consultation with the DM0/ Principal. The DM0/ Principal will be in the Convener of the Committee.

At the State Level, there may be an Appellate Authority with the follow ins members: Principal Secretary, Secretary to Government Health & Family Welfare Department                                  :: Chairman DHS/ DME/ Head of the Dept.                                            :: Convener Director General of Police or His Nominee/representative                 :: Member A Specialist Doctor in the Concerned   Subject/ Speciality                         :: Member

By Order of the Governor Dr.VISHWAS MEHTA Secretary to Government

Read:- J .G.O. (Rt) No. 98/200l/H&FWD dated 11.1.20001

2.           G O. (Rt) No. 127/200l/H&FWD dated 15.1.2001

3.           G O. (Rt) No.406/03/H&FWD dated 4-2-2003

O R D E R

Doctors in Government Service are allowed to examine or treat patients outside duty hours at their residence or at the residence of the patients vide rule 50 of the Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1960. Request have been received from the Government doctors that proper guidelines should be issued to govern their private practice, Government have issued guidelines on private practice by Government doctors as per G.O read as l^sl paper above. Subsequently Government have kept in abeyance clause 2 and 4 of the said G.O, as per G.O read as 11¹¹"¹ paper above. After having discussions in the matter with the recognized Service Organizations Government constituted a committee as per G.O read as Illrd paper above, for studying the case and to submit recommendations regarding guidelines tor private practice by doctors in Government service. The committee has submitted their recommendations. Government, after examining the recommendations, are pleased to issue the following guidelines in conformity with the provisions under the Government Servants conduct rules, 1960, asunder:

1.         The term 'private practice' is defined as the service for payment rendered by a doctor in Government service outside his duty hours to a person who is not an inpatient in the Government hospital where the doctor is employed.

2.          The doctor should confine his private practice to his place of residence,