Daijiworld Media Network - Patna
Patna, Apr 12: In a major policy decision amid ongoing political developments in Bihar, the state government has imposed a complete ban on private practice by government-employed doctors, triggering widespread debate within the medical fraternity.
The directive, issued by the Bihar Health Department, prohibits all government doctors from operating private clinics or engaging in any form of parallel private medical practice while serving in public hospitals.
The move is part of the state’s Saat Nishchay-2 initiative, which aims to strengthen public service delivery, particularly in healthcare. Officials said the decision has been taken in response to long-standing concerns over absenteeism in government hospitals, poor service delivery, and the diversion of patients to private facilities.
Under the new framework, doctors will instead receive a Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) as compensation for giving up private practice. The government maintains that the reform is intended to ensure doctors remain fully available in public hospitals and improve patient care across the state.
However, the decision has sparked concerns among medical professionals, many of whom argue that the ban could impact morale, create staffing challenges, and place additional pressure on the public healthcare system.
The restriction applies broadly across the state medical system, including the Bihar Medical Education Service cadre. This means senior professors and faculty members in government medical colleges, as well as specialists at institutions such as the Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology, will also be barred from private practice.
Despite opposition from sections of the medical community, state authorities have reiterated that employees drawing salaries from public funds must dedicate themselves fully to government service.
The order, issued ahead of anticipated political developments in the state, has become a major point of discussion in both administrative and healthcare circles, with its long-term impact on Bihar’s health system closely watched.