Without NOC, govt doctors should not practice privately: West Bengal health dept to Mamata

The department alleged that a ‘significant’ bill has to be paid, using the Swasthya Sathi scheme, to government doctors who have started privately practicing

Under the department’s proposed directive, if a NOC is not obtained by a government doctor who wants to engage in private practice, their medical bill will be withheld if treated under this scheme. (Express Photo)

Amid protests by junior doctors, the West Bengal health department has sought the strict implementation of the state’s Clinical Establishment Act, wherein a government-employed doctor will need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) before engaging in private practice.

The health department requested this move from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, arguing that the cease work of junior doctors had created a “deadlock” in the government medical system, while some doctors “privately” treated patients and performed surgeries in private hospitals and nursing homes.

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As a result, the department alleged, the medical sector has to pay a significant bill using the Swasthya Sathi scheme. Their proposed directive would mean that government doctors cannot claim money from the scheme through private practice. The Chief Minister herself had said during a discussion on October 21 with junior doctors that in the two months of the agitation, the state government spent Rs. 450 crore on private hospitals and nursing homes.

A senior health official said, “The health department has identified a total of 563 government doctors who received a portion of that amount from private hospitals as their remuneration. A large number of these doctors are Senior Residents (SRs) in government hospitals. They saw 74,000 patients through the health partner project at that time. The government has spent about 54 crore rupees on the fees of those doctors.” He further added, “A specific report has been submitted by the Health Department to the Chief Minister in this regard. The Health Department found in a study that the government spent a total of Rs 315 crore to meet the bills of private hospitals in the 40 days from August 10 to September 18.”

Under the department’s proposed directive, if a NOC is not obtained by a government doctor who wants to engage in private practice, their medical bill will be withheld if treated under this scheme.

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

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