Tripura Specialists Fight Ban on Private Medical Practice

Agartala: Superspecialist doctors at Agartala Government Medical College and GB Pant Hospital are fighting the state government's move to ban their private practice. The forum representing 14 specialists claims the policy puts the cart before the horse. They insist the state should fix staffing shortages, broken equipment, and outdated theaters before cracking down on doctors.

The group sent a letter to Medical Superintendent Dr. Bidhan Goswami. They wrote that the government policy was "formulated and brought forward without adequate consultation with the stakeholders directly involved in patient care." Many of these doctors took their jobs under the impression that they could work privately. Now, they feel the government is changing the deal without warning.

Chief Minister Manik Saha defends the ban. Opposition leaders disagree. Jitendra Chaudhury warned that the state will lose top talent if it forces their hand. Former Health Minister Sudip Roy Barman called the decision unrealistic. He argued that officials cannot demand extra hours while cutting off the income doctors rely on.

The forum wants an opt-in system instead of a total ban. They also called out officials for telling unhappy staff to just quit. The doctors labeled those comments demeaning. For now, the future of healthcare at the state's top facility remains in the balance.