The Jammu and Kashmir government has prohibited a faculty member at the Government Medical College, Srinagar, from continuing his private practice stating that his engagement in private practice “significantly outweighs” his contribution to the government college. On April 9, the Health and Medical Education Department issued an order barring Dr Hanief Dar, an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at GMC Srinagar, from private practice across the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. In his order, Secretary Health Syed Abid Rashid Shah has noted, “an evaluation of Dr. Hanief Dar's work under the AB-PMJAY/AB PMJAY SEHAT Scheme by the State Health Agency, J&K, revealed that he has performed 1807 surgeries exclusively in private hospitals, with no procedures recorded under the scheme at GMC Srinagar; and the work-done report from GMC Srinagar confirms that”. The order further states that “despite being a full-time faculty member, his engagement in private practice significantly outweighs his contribution to government service and this constitutes a serious violation of J&K Service Conduct Rules and Government directives on private practice by medical faculty.” Official sources said that Dr Dar “has been conducting surgeries during working hours at GMC Srinagar at the cost of patient care at the government hospital.” Following this, departmental action was initiated against him and his private practice banned. Calls to Dr Hanief Dar for a response went unanswered.
