Ban on private practice: SKIMS may face brain drain
The exit of top medicos, according to insiders, would not only hit the patient care but would also be death-knell for the institution which has maintained its reputation through thick and thin.
In a major concern, Kashmir’s lone tertiary-care health institution, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) is facing the threat of brain drain with top medicos mulling to put in their papers over criminalization of private practice.
Insiders disclosed to that Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, (Head of department Neurology) has submitted his resignation letter to Director SKIMS Dr ShowkatZargar and many more professors and Heads of Departments are following the suit within the next few weeks.
The exit of top medicos, according to insiders, would not only hit the patient care but would also be death-knell for the institution which has maintained its reputation through thick and thin.
“The exit of medicos would cripple the entire healthcare system in the State as it the only institution where specialized surgeries like brain surgeries, cardiovascular surgeries and kidney transplants are performed,” they said, adding that the exodus of the senior faculty members would also lead to de-recognition of DM and M.Ch courses in the institute.
“Once the medicos migrate, the Medical Council of India would have no option other than de-recognizing the courses due to shortage of faculty members,” they said.
At present, SKIMS is offering DM in cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, medical oncology and neurology; and M.Ch in cardiovascular thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, plastic & reconstruction surgery, pediatric surgery and urology.
A senior professor at SKIMS termed the criminalization of their private practice as gross injustice with them.
“It is the only institution in the world where private practice by doctors is a criminal act. Even in other health institutions of the State like SMHS and SMGS, the act is dealt within civil service rules,” he said.
Another faculty member said: “Our social set-up has been disturbed. How can we turn back our relatives and friends who knock at our doors for consultation and treatment?”
“We didn’t look at greener pastures and served the institute in the worst times,” he added.
Several medicos opined that they cannot do justice with their job given the huge influx of patients to the institution.
“Given the rush here, only influential ones manage to see the doctors by one way or the other, but the commoners and less privileged have to wait for days to consult the doctor of his/ her choice,” they disclosed.
A group of patients eagerly waiting at SKIMS said they are facing tough time in getting appointment with medicos due to huge rush.
“The number of days lost in this wait is terrible compared to paying a small fee in the evening without going through the rigmarole of referrals and the uncertainty of being seen by the doctor of our choice,” one of them opined.
Experts suggested that the authorities should de-criminalize the private practice to arrest the imminent brain drain. “The authorities should allow SKIMS medicos to go for private practice after the routine hospital hours,” they said.
According to them, the option of using operation theaters after 5 pm for doing surgeries and sharing the money generated from this between the doctors, paramedics and SKIMS is also a solution to the problem.
They said the SKIMS doctors shall have a choice of opting for or refusing Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA).
“The doctors who want to see patients at their private clinics would part with their NPA,” they said, adding the NPA surrender would result in saving crores of rupees that could be utilized for some good cause.
