AMSA demands withdrawal of order prohibited Doctors to work in Pvt Hospitals

GUWAHATI: The Assam Medical Service Association (AMSA) has demanded of the State government to withdraw the prohibition to doctors, nurses and other health staff working under the State Health and Family Welfare department to work in private hospitals. Such a prohibition was imposed recently after the outbreak of corona.

The State government had prohibited all doctors, nursing staff, paramedical staff and others working in the State Health and Family Welfare department from indulging in private practice or working in any private sector clinical establishments, for an initial period. The State government has been carrying out extensive COVID-19 testing across the State and a large number of COVID-19 cases have been detected which indicated the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community at large. In view of the need to take all necessary steps to contain the spread of COVID-19 infection, the department extended the prohibition of private practice by government medical staff for a period of two months ending in September 30, 2020.

The AMSA's extended central office-bearers meeting on this issue on August 10 took a resolution. The Association raised strong objections to the government's view that government doctors are spreading COVID-19 through private practice. "It is to be mentioned that all government doctors have been fighting selflessly against COVID-19 from the very beginning of the outbreak as well as rendering other medical and health services sincerely and dedicatedly... Restrictions on private practice have demoralized the doctors of the Health and Family Welfare Department during the period of COVID-19. Therefore, AMSA has decided to request the government to withdraw the notification within 48 hours from its date of issue of this letter for the greater interest of the deserving people of the State," AMSA president Dr. Noni Gopal Saharia said in a statement issued to the media. The AMSA has also appealed to the department to open all OPD and emergency services, especially in all district hospitals for the greater interest of the patients other then COVID-19 patients.

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