WEST BENGAL-Private Practice and Medicare

WEST BENGAL Private Practice and Medicare Sujit K Das PHYSICIANS are supposed to belong to a noble profession and hence a preferential devotion to the commercial aspects of medical practice has never failed to raise eyebrows. Private practice by doctors under regular government employment is a particularly sensitive issue. Fleecing of patients with spurious treatment, neglect of emergency patients, lack of attention to poor hospital patients due to doctors' busy private practice, etc, are favourite stories for the media. The recent controversy on medical malpractice cases under the operation of Consumer Protection Act have increased public concern on the issue Privatisation of medical practice, however, is on the increase and in such a situation, the legislation passed in West Bengal banning private practice of medical teachers in the government medical colleges has raised much expectation in all quarters, along with intense controversy.