'Teaching hospital doctors not allowed private practice during working hours,' says Karnataka minister

Bengaluru: Medical Education Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil on Monday defended the private practise by doctors/professors working at teaching hospitals after their working hours.

Responding to a question by Congress member Balkis Banu, the minister said that the doctors/professors would face stringent action if they were found to be carrying out private practice during their working hours.

“Following the complaints that they were into private practise during working hours, we introduced a salary system based on biometric attendance. These doctors/professors must provided their biometric attendance four times a day - at 9 am, 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm. They must stay in the hospital between 9 am and 4 pm,” the minister said.

He said the government will look into specific complaints if any. 

Dr Patil informed the House that the government will soon establish Bone Marrow Aspirate and Trephine Biopsy (BMAT) institutes at Mysuru and Hubballi soon, mainly to examine cancer among children. “I have instructed officials of Indira Gandhi Children Hospitals also to establish BMAT,” the minister said.

As per the data tabled in the House, over 1,500 children below 14 years are diagnosed with cancer.