Staff Reporter :
The High Court (HC) on Tuesday directed the government to form an independent commission to formulate a guideline for the government-appointed doctors, who do private practices.
It also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the relevant law (Section 4 of the Medical Practice and Private Clinic and Laboratory Ordinance of 1982) that allows government-appointed doctors to run private practice should not be declared unconstitutional.
The High Court bench of Justice F R M Nazmul Ahasan and Justice K M Kamrul Kader passed the order and issued the rule after hearing a writ petition filed by five Supreme Court lawyers seeking directives to stop private practice by government-appointed doctors.
Health Secretary, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), President of Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council and President of Bangladesh Medical Association have been made respondents in the rule.
In the petition filed on February 4, the lawyers prayed for the formation of a commission for introducing a guideline for private practice of the government-appointed doctors, and to conduct mobile courts to stop irregularities at government and private hospitals.
The petitioners also requested the court to issue a rule asking respondents to explain as to why their inaction to stop private practice by the government-appointed doctors during their office time should not be declared illegal and why they should not be directed to stop such practice.
This kind of malpractice is not just professional misconduct, but also a legal offence, it said.
Five Supreme Court lawyers, including Abdus Sattar Palwan, collectively lodged the petition challenging the inaction of the authorities concerned in stopping private practice by the government appointed doctors during their office.
