The doctors of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) are likely to have opportunities to conduct private practices after office hours in the campus everyday afternoon, highly placed sources said today.
Under a new arrangement, all the 434 doctors-ranging from assistant professors to full fledged professors- can see patients privately at hospital outdoors between 2.30 pm and 8.30 pm with fees from patients.
A draft policy has already been formulated to help BSMMU doctors do practice privately at the institute instead of seeing patients outside, especially at clinics and private chambers.
The policy is going to be placed at the upcoming Staff Meeting of the doctors by the university authorities after Eid-ul-Azha.
Once approved by the doctors, the draft will be placed at the Academic Council for approval before it would go to Syndicate for approval, the authorities said.
For each visit, the fee for a professor has been proposed at
Taka 500, while it would be Taka 400 for associate professors and
Taka 300 for assistant professors, according to the draft policy
recommendations.
“We are going to encourage and motivate our physicians to do
private practice at their own institutes instead of doing so
outside their workplace,” Vice Chancellor of BSMMU Prof. Dr Pran
Gopal Datta, said. He said private practice outside the working
hospitals causes injustice to professionalism.
“This must be stopped, while we must find an amicable
solution which would bring benefit for both doctors and patients
based on reality,” said Pran Gopal, country’s most renowned ENT
specialist.
He said 70 percent of the fees would be taken by the
physician, while 20 percent will go to the university fund and 10
percent to supporting staffs. According to Pran Gopal, the
`institutional practice’ would also help patients’ diagnostic
tests done in least cost at BSMMU.
Private practice by doctors after office hours has been
regarded as one of the major contributors for degrading quality
service at public hospitals and malpractice in patient care.
The private practice was banned in the historic health
policy in late eighties, but the policy was cancelled following
protests from doctors, who feared that the move could cause
income erosion.
“The BSMMU turns lifeless after midday as most of the
doctors leave the campus in the afternoon. But we want to make it
lively for round the clock and ensure access to service for all
people coming from different part of the country,” said the vice
chancellor.
DHAKA, Nov 12 (BSS)
