Tripura CM Dr. Manik Saha said the decision to ban private practice by AGMC and GBP Hospital doctors was finalized after consultations with doctors’ organizations. The government also approved a 20% Non-Practicing Allowance to improve doctor availability and strengthen public healthcare services.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Thursday reaffirmed that the state government’s decision to prohibit private practice by faculty members and medical officers attached to Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital was finalized only after extensive consultations with various doctors’ organizations. The Chief Minister emphasized that the landmark healthcare reform was introduced with the sole objective of improving patient care and ensuring the availability of doctors at the state’s premier government hospital.
Addressing a public programme in Sepahijala district, Dr. Saha said the government held multiple rounds of discussions with representatives of doctors’ associations before arriving at the final decision. According to him, the organizations placed several proposals before the government during the consultation process, including demands for timely promotions, career advancement opportunities, and improvements in service-related benefits.
The Chief Minister stated that after carefully examining these proposals and holding detailed deliberations, the state cabinet approved the decision to discontinue private practice by doctors serving at AGMC and GBP Hospital. Simultaneously, the government approved a 20 percent increase in basic pay as a Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA), providing financial compensation for doctors who would no longer engage in private practice.
Dr. Saha explained that the enhanced NPA was introduced based on recommendations from healthcare experts at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, along with provisions outlined under the 7th Central Pay Commission. He said these recommendations guided the government’s decision to balance the interests of medical professionals while prioritizing public healthcare.
Highlighting the rationale behind the policy, the Chief Minister said the primary objective is to ensure that doctors remain available at AGMC and GBP Hospital according to the needs of patients. He noted that while private practice offers additional income and attracts many medical professionals, the government had received repeated complaints regarding the absence of doctors during working hours, particularly at the hospital and its Super Speciality Block.
“Several complaints were received about doctors not being available in the hospital when needed. Keeping the interests of patients in mind, we have taken this landmark step to strengthen healthcare services. The initiative has begun with GBP Hospital,” Dr. Saha said while addressing the gathering.
The Chief Minister further claimed that the medical fraternity itself had not openly opposed the government’s decision. Instead, he alleged that certain groups outside the healthcare system were attempting to politicize the issue for their own interests.
“The doctors are not saying anything about the decision; it is others who are trying to politicize the matter. Our primary objective is public service,” he remarked.
Dr. Saha acknowledged that some doctors may initially face challenges in adjusting to the new system. However, he expressed confidence that the transition would become smoother over time as both healthcare professionals and the administration adapt to the revised arrangement.
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The state government believes that prohibiting private practice, combined with the enhanced Non-Practicing Allowance, will improve accountability, increase the presence of doctors within government hospitals, reduce patient grievances, and strengthen the overall quality of healthcare delivery in Tripura. The move is also expected to enhance access to specialist medical services at AGMC and GBP Hospital, ensuring that patients receive timely treatment without facing delays caused by the non-availability of doctors.
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With the implementation beginning at GBP Hospital, the government hopes the policy will serve as a significant reform in Tripura’s public healthcare system, placing patient welfare and efficient medical services at the forefront of healthcare administration.
