Practice during hospital hours: Punjab government to take action against doctors

Punjab government has decided to take disciplinary action under Punjab Employees Efficiency and Discipline Act (PEEDA) 2006 against the doctors, nurses and paramedical staff involved in doing private practice at private hospitals/clinics during office hours.
This decision was taken by the provincial government in the light of reports that a good number of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff of different hospitals are involved in private practice during the office hours, sources said here on Friday.
The sources claimed that private practice of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff during office hours is hitting government endeavour hard to provide free medical treatment to the masses. Those doing private practice are habitual of coming late and leaving their places of duties early, they added. Secretary Health Punjab, Jehanzeb Khan, while chairing a review meeting to evaluate the performance of DHQ, THQ hospitals, RHCs and BHUs of district Sargodha, directed the officers of the department to take disciplinary action against the doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, involved in private practice during office hours.
He further directed that office hours in the hospitals should strictly be observed and disciplinary action under PEEDA Act must be undertaken against the absentees. He said that inspection and monitoring system has also been established to check the performance of doctors and hospitals.
The Secretary Health took serious notice of gradual reduction in number of patients in Gynaecology Department and very low number of deliveries in the hospital. He directed that show cause notices must be issued to all the gynaecologists working in DHQ hospital for their lack of interest in official duties, negligence in treatment of patients and forcing pregnant women for delivery in private clinics/hospitals.
He gave two-month time period to EDO (H) for improving the hospitals working. He said that if within said period, a visible change in the hospital's performance is not observed, strict action would be taken against the senior officers.
He expressed displeasure over the insufficient arrangements for controlling Malaria fever despite of monsoon season. He directed that immediate anti-malaria spray must be started in the specific areas of the district and sufficient medicines should be procured for the treatment of the fever. He directed that round the clock availability of LHVs in the labour rooms of the hospitals and RHCs should also be ensured.
Earlier, EDO (H) informed secretary health that almost all gynaecologists, LHVs of DHQ hospital Sargodha are doing private practice in private hospitals and due to their apathy towards patients, very few women prefer government hospitals for delivery. Additional Secretary (Est), Dawood Muhammad Khan, Addl. Secretary (Admin), Khursheed Zaidi, Director General (Health) Dr Aslam Chaudhry Provincial Co-ordinator Family Planning & Primary Health, Dr Akhtar Rasheed Malik, Provincial Co-ordinator MNCH Programme, Dr Sabiha Khursheed, EDO (Health) Sargodha Dr Habeeb and Medical Superintendent of the concerned hospitals attended the meeting.