By Firstdespatch Desk Jun 26, 2026
Agartala, June 26 (FD) A forum of super specialist doctors has opposed the Tripura government's decision to ban private practice by faculty members and medical officers at Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and GB Pant Hospital, arguing that the policy was introduced without adequate consultation and does not address the systemic shortcomings affecting healthcare delivery.
In a representation to AGMC and GB Pant Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Bidhan Goswami, the Super speciality Doctors' Forum said the decision was taken without sufficient consultation with doctors directly involved in patient care.
The 14-member forum said many specialists had joined government service when private practice was permitted and that altering service conditions unilaterally could demoralise doctors and hamper the expansion of super speciality healthcare in the state.
The doctors maintained that banning private practice alone would not improve healthcare unless critical issues such as shortages of specialists and support staff, inadequate infrastructure, limited ICU and operation theatre capacity, lack of modern equipment, and delayed promotions and incentives are addressed.
The forum also criticised remarks suggesting that doctors unwilling to accept the policy should resign, calling them "demeaning and disrespectful" to the medical profession. Instead, it proposed an "opt-in" model, allowing doctors to voluntarily forgo private practice.
The government's decision has also come under attack from the Opposition. Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury urged the government to improve public healthcare without risking the loss of experienced specialists, warning that resignations could adversely affect patient care. Former Health Minister and Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman described the move as "unrealistic" and called for a review, saying it could ultimately inconvenience patients across the state.
Defending the decision, Health Secretary Kiran Gitte said the policy was finalised only after extensive consultations with the All Tripura Government Doctors Association and the AGMC Teachers' Forum, led by Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on June 21.
Gitte said the objective is to strengthen medical education and improve healthcare services at the state's premier government medical institution. He noted that government medical college faculty are barred from private practice in most states to ensure better teaching standards and quality patient care, adding that Tripura's decision is in line with established practices elsewhere. FD JK