HYDERABAD: Restructuring of the Health and Medical Department into three separate directorates and lifting of the ban on private practice by Government doctors working in Primary Health Centres are some of the major decisions taken by the Government as part of health sector reforms.

Accordingly, separate directorates for primary health, hospital services and medical education will be established immediately. "This measure will go a long way in tackling the problems faced by the Government due to lack of doctors and experienced professionals in teaching colleges," Finance and Health Minister K. Rosaiah told reporters after presiding over a meeting of floor leaders of all political parties here on Wednesday.

Another key outcome of the meeting was a proposal to increase the number of seats in post-graduate medical courses in fulfilment of a long-felt need.

Token fee opposed

However, another proposal to outsource state-of-the-art equipment in Government hospitals and collect a token amount for the services was opposed by the TDP, CPI, CPI (M), BJP and the TRS representatives. Mr. Rosaiah clarified that the move was not to bring back the user charges.

He said the ban on private practice for doctors recruited to the PHCs after 1987 had been lifted. This relaxation was not applicable to those working in teaching hospitals. No decision was taken to allow those working in the District Headquarters and Area Hospitals to run pay clinics.

As part of the re-deployment of doctors, only MBBS qualified doctors would be posted to PHCs while those with post-graduate qualifications would be moved out to other hospitals to provide specialised treatment. Plans were afoot to enhance the number of PG medical seats in Government colleges to give preference to in-service candidates, who would be required to sign a bond to serve Government hospitals for five years.

RMPs to be allowed

The meeting also agreed to utilise the services of retired professors in teaching hospitals and allow registered medical practitioners (RMPs) in the rural areas to provide first-aid to needy patients. The Health Minister said all systems of medicine, including ayurveda, unani and homeopathy, would be provided in PHCs.

N. Janardhan Reddy and Satyanaryana Murthy (TDP), G. Kishan Reddy (BJP), M.A.Gaffoor (CPI-M), Chada Venkat Reddy (CPI) and K. Nagesh (TRS) attended the meeting.

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