Agartala: Former Tripura Health Minister and Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman on Tuesday claimed that the state government was inviting serious trouble by prohibiting private practice for in-service doctors and professors at GB Pant Hospital and Agartala Government Medical College.
According to Roy Barman, although the government is yet to issue a formal notification on the matter, doctors have already stopped private practice, and its impact is evident in the overcrowding at the hospital’s outpatient departments (OPDs).
“The whole idea is unrealistic. As far as I can understand, many doctors who are on the verge of retirement or have served for a considerable period may resign, which will have a lasting impact on the overall healthcare system. The government’s stand on the issue is also disrespectful towards doctors. It is pretending that there would be no impact on the healthcare system if senior doctors leave. If they leave, who will teach the students in the medical college?” Roy Barman questioned.
Taking a dig at Chief Minister Manik Saha, who also holds the Health portfolio, Roy Barman said, “When our respected Health Minister was a professor at Tripura Medical College, he himself engaged in private practice.”
According to Roy Barman, instead of imposing a blanket ban on private practice, the government should have introduced strict guidelines preventing doctors from engaging in private practice during duty hours.
“Even after the ban on private practice, doctors cannot be forced to work overtime. They will continue to work eight hours a day, that is the system. The right decision would have been to introduce a practical roster system so that senior doctors could be available in the hospital round the clock. At present, after a stipulated period, only interns continue to provide services in the hospital,” he claimed.
Responding to the argument that the system had been adopted from AIIMS, Roy Barman said, “Before adopting a system from elsewhere, you should also consider the salary and benefits provided to doctors at AIIMS. The level of infrastructure and other amenities available in hospitals of that standard is absent here.”
The Congress leader also criticised the BJP over the alleged theft of donations meant for the Ram Mandir. Roy Barman, who is also an invitee member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), said political parties that “didn’t even spare Prabhu Shri Ram and the donations offered in his devotion” deserved condemnation.
“They deserve the public’s condemnation. I know it is a difficult choice, but the time has come for BJP supporters to choose between Prime Minister Modi and Prabhu Shri Ram. The theft of donations, precious metals, ornaments, and other offerings made by devotees across the country is a betrayal of the people who have faith in Prabhu Shri Ram,” Roy Barman said.
He also referred to what he described as a series of controversies, including the formation of the trust, alleged irregular land deals, alleged construction irregularities, and the alleged theft of donations and subscriptions.
“The BJP and its fringe outfits have turned the religious faith of Sanatan into a laughing stock, bringing international embarrassment. Today, people from other religions and countries are laughing at us,” he added.
Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashish Kumar Saha was also present at the press briefing.