The West Bengal Health Department has introduced a new restriction on teacher-doctors serving under the West Bengal Medical Education Service, barring them from undertaking private practice for 72 hours after a patient is admitted to a government hospital. According to a senior official, the restriction came into force immediately and aims to ensure that faculty members remain available for patients admitted under their care. The restriction applies from the day of admission and for the next 48 hours, effectively covering a 72-hour period.
This move is expected to directly affect private practice by faculty members of government medical colleges, who generally have a designated admission day each week. As a result, they will not be able to undertake private practice on that day and the following two days, leaving them with fewer days in the week for such practice. In some cases, where faculty members have two admission days a week, the restriction could cover most of the working week.
While some doctors have expressed concern that the sudden restriction could affect patients who are already undergoing treatment at private hospitals under government doctors, others have welcomed the move. They believe that ensuring the availability of doctors after admission to government hospitals could improve continuity and quality of care.
