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Karnataka Bars Government Doctors From Treating Private In-Patients and Limits Practice to OPD

Officials say the immediate order targets patient-care lapses flagged by the Lokayukta.

Overview

  • Private work is now restricted to out-patient consultations conducted outside government duty hours at a single declared clinic or hospital.
  • Breaches will be treated as misconduct and can draw disciplinary action under the Karnataka Civil Services Rules.
  • The Health Department cited complaints and cases, including some deaths, linked to doctors diverting time to private in-patient care.
  • Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao told the Assembly the prohibition protects services in public hospitals and said steps are underway to ensure round-the-clock care at taluk hospitals.
  • The clarification mirrors stricter models in states such as Kerala and is expected to increase compliance demands for doctors who had been consulting at multiple private facilities.