Government Doctors skipping their regular duty: TN Health Minister

Tamil Nadu State Health Minister Mr M R K Paneerselvam has said, that the Doctors working in the government hospitals are skipping regular duty to practice in private hospitals. "These acts would be closely monitored", he added.

After reviewing implementation of “Kalaingar Insurance Scheme for Life Saving Treatment” in Kanyakumari and two other districts, Mr Pannerselvam further said the government was considering banning private practice by its doctors.

The opinion of public health department officials and government doctors would have to be considered before taking a decision, he said in Nagercoil.

He said the new Government Medical Colleges in Villupuram and Tiruvarur would be opened in the next two months.

Speaking at a meeting Nagarkoil on Friday to review the scheme’s implementation in Madurai and five neighbouring districts, he said government had appointed 28,000 paramedical staff and 6,118 doctors after a long gap.

He asked the District Administrations to give top priority to the scheme, launched last year, to ensure that maximum number of people benefited from it. Camps could be organised to popularise the scheme and prevent loss of lives.

Though government hospitals and primary health centres were well equipped and better staffed, they were not able to cater to the needs of increasing number of patients. Hence the scheme was launched, he said.

- Asian Tribune -