Violating the private practice ban is nothing new as far as the doctors of this institution is concerned and even the previous Director who was supposed to be the custodian of the values was indulging in private practice at home. But he would go scot free because of thick political and bureaucratic cover he enjoyed. The governments have been playing with this institution and making it an “akhara” of politics. The current government compromised even the sanctity of its governing board by nominating influential doctors on it who could not by any logic be there as they are supposed to be the employees. This also created a strong lobby that engaged “warring” groups in continued tussle at the cost of the healthcare. Chief Minister who heads the Governing Body should not have shown this knee jerk response and should not have attached the Director without making his “wrongdoing” (if any) or lack of control public. This trend is bound to create a dent in the system and will further erode people’s faith and trust in such institutions.
