Private nursing homes and hospitals in the state capital will no longer be able to employ practitioners from other systems of medicine, said a notice circulated to private health facilities by the district health office on Thursday.
The notice warns violators of stringent action, including revocation of licence, under provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Nursing Homes and Clinical Establishments (Registration and Licensing) Act.
Until now, a number of private health centres, licensed under the allopathic system of medicine, have relied on practitioners from other systems of medicines to deliver services especially during late night hours.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr Prabhakar Tiwari says that though the practice has recorded a significant climbdown in recent years, the fresh order reflects the district administrations resolve to put a complete end to it.
Experts from the medical field however say that the move may not be practical as it fails to consider aspirations of MBBS doctors who mostly opt for higher studies following the completion of the five year course.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, AYUSH doctors say that even if nursing homes do find MBBS doctors to work at low wages, the facilities will have to deal with high employee turnover as qualified allopathic doctors will only use such opportunities as a stop gap arrangement.
Dr Tiwari however says that cross-system employment at health facilities will no longer be tolerated and violations will also be brought to the notice of the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
