private practice by govt doctors banned: CM

Amaravati: The YSRCP government has decided to ban private practice by government doctors in the state. This decision was taken based on the report submitted by an expert committee headed by former IAS officer K Sujatha Rao.

Chairing a review meeting, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy here on Wednesday said the government would make additional payment to the doctors to compensate the loss they would suffer on account of giving up private practice.

It may be mentioned here that the expert committee had submitted its report on the reforms in the health sector with 100 recommendations. The most important of the recommendations was to ban government doctors from taking up private practice.

The meeting also decided that Aarogyasri scheme would be implemented in 150 super speciality hospitals in Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai from November 1 and health cards will be issued from December 21.

He told the officials that the government would start a pilot project in West Godavari district, and it will include 2,000 ailments under the scheme. The government, he said would soon formulate guidelines for the new Aarogyasri scheme which will be implemented from April 1, 2020.

According to information provided by the Chief Minister's Office, the Chief Minister told the officials to formulate guidelines for compensating the financial loss to the government doctors who would now have to give up private practice.

He directed the officials to release a notification for the recruitment of vacancies of government doctors. Jagan said that nursing colleges should also be monitored in the same manner like medical colleges and ordered to set up nursing colleges in all government medical colleges.

He asked the officials to evolve an effective mechanism to maintain 104 and 108 vehicles in the state and review the functioning of these services under "Naadu- Nedu" programme.

He also emphasised the need for adopting best practices for pest control, sanitation and storage systems in hospitals. He told the officials to examine the earlier MoUs entered into for purchase of medicines.

Jagan has also announced an allowance of Rs 5000 to the patients while they are on rest after undergoing surgery. The Chief Minister directed the officials to prepare guidelines to give Rs 5000 to patients who have been suffering from chronic diseases. Deputy Chief Minister Alla Nani, Dr Sujatha Rao, committee members and senior officials were present during the meeting.