Agartala, June 24: In a significant policy decision aimed at strengthening public healthcare services, the Tripura government has barred private practice by faculty members and medical officers posted at the Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital, while approving a 20 percent increase in their basic pay as a Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA).
The decision was approved by the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha during its meeting on Monday. The announcement was made by Tourism Minister and Cabinet spokesperson Sushanta Chowdhury during a press briefing at the Civil Secretariat on Tuesday.
Chowdhury said the proposal had been discussed in an earlier Cabinet meeting but was deferred after several ministers sought clarifications on certain aspects of the policy. Following detailed deliberations, the Cabinet unanimously approved the proposal in its latest meeting.
Under the new arrangement, around 350 faculty members and medical officers serving at AGMC and GBP Hospital will receive an additional 20 percent of their basic pay as a non-practicing allowance. In return, they will no longer be permitted to engage in private medical practice.
The minister stated that the move is intended to ensure the full-time availability of government doctors and improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare services in state-run institutions.
“This is a Cabinet decision and not merely a departmental order. The objective is to strengthen public healthcare by ensuring that government doctors devote their professional time entirely to government service,” Chowdhury said.
He added that similar recommendations had been made by an expert delegation from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, as well as by the 16th Finance Commission, both of which emphasized the need to discourage private practice by government medical professionals.
The minister noted that previous attempts to restrict private practice were implemented through departmental directives and lacked the authority of a Cabinet decision. The latest move, therefore, provides a stronger policy framework for enforcement.
Chowdhury also clarified that doctors unwilling to comply with the new policy may choose to resign from service.
The decision is expected to enhance accountability, strengthen patient care, and improve healthcare delivery at Tripura’s premier government medical institutions.
