Officials of Nagaland Health & Family Welfare address a press conference in Kohima on August 1 on concerning an office memorandum on Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) of government doctors in Kohima on August 1, 2023. (Morung File Photo)

Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 1
A total of 36 out of 413 doctors in positions across various health units in the State are not availing Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA), Minister for Health & Family Welfare P Paiwang Konyak informed the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on August 29.
Approximately Rs. 53.76 lakh has been saved from the state exchequer this year due to this, he added in response to a query by legislator Kuzholuzo Nienu about the NPA.
Regarding the current status of the NPA, the minister said that the department is implementing the provisions related to NPA as per office memorandums (OMs) notified by the Finance Department on March 17, 2010, and September 19, 2011.
Additionally, following an order issued by the Upa-Lokayukta on March 30, 2023, the department issued another OM on July 31 reiterating the provisions of NPA, cautioning doctors to either stop practicing privately or forego NPA, and advising private hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes not to employ government doctors, he added.
According to the report of the Upa-Lokayukta’s order, during a preliminary inquiry from April 2017 to November 2017, a total of 26 doctors gave statements to the investigating officer admitting to private practice during their free time. Furthermore, two doctors were found absent from their posting place during a “surprise visit.”
Konyak also informed that while the matter of NPA was challenged in court by 51 doctors, the case was withdrawn by the petitioners themselves, with the High Court giving them the liberty to challenge the Nagaland Healthcare Establishment Act, 1997.
What is private practice?
“Any medical practitioner employed under the state government and practicing for personal monetary gain apart from their official duty shall be termed as private practice,” according to the September 19, 2011 OM issued in pursuance of the provisions under Sub-Rule 9 of Rule 14 of the Nagaland Services (Revision of Pay) Rules, 2010.
The rules covering the entire area of Nagaland state that the NPA will be granted to a medical doctor employed under the State of Nagaland, recognized under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, or under the Dentist Act, 1948. Any newly appointed medical doctor is qualified for Non-Practicing Allowance if they have rendered a minimum of 3 years of service in a rural area outpost. Any fresh RMP (Registered Medical Practitioner) as per the extreme requirement of their service by the department may be exempted from the above clause, it added.
What the latest OM says
In the latest OM dated July 31, 2023, the department directed in-service government doctors both availing and not availing NPA, and engaged in private practice in their own hospitals or in partnership, to either close down their private hospitals or de-associate from such partnerships within a month from the date of issue of the notification.
It also directed in-service government doctors who are availing NPA and involved in private practice in private hospitals to either stop private practice or forgo their NPA within a month. In-service government doctors not availing NPA may be allowed to give private consultations and services with prior approval of the competent authority to needy patients strictly during non-working hours, it said.
All private hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes are directed not to engage any in-service government doctors, nurses, technicians, and health workers in their establishments. Failure to comply will result in the cancellation of their licenses, it added.
In the event of reports of absence from the place of posting without proper leave permissions from the competent authority, action will be initiated as per the Nagaland Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1968, and the Nagaland Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1967, the OM added.