Himalayan News Service

Chitwan, May 20:

Physicians at the BP Memorial Cancer Hospital have been given the go-ahead to practise in private clinics, plunging the hospital into another controversy.

Officiating director of the hospital, Dr Bal Man Singh Karki, said the hospital management committee has permitted the doctors to practise in private clinics but only before 9 am and after 5 pm. He added they would be allowed to do so with effect from Jestha 1.

However, following the implementation of the decision, 75 per cent of the allowances of these doctors would be cancelled, the management committee of the hospital has decided.

Though the hospital earlier banned doctors from practising outside, 17 doctors among the total of 24 had been practising in private clinics secretly.

The management committee has invited applications from interested doctors before the end of Baisakh. The hospital, which has been shrouded by controversy time and again, has invited another now following the decision.

Mahendra Bahadur Karki, chairman of the management committee, had planned to start a clinic in the hospital premises to provide maximum service to patients. “Doctors are gems and their services should be provided to all by all means. It is my duty to provide quality service by remaining under the hospital rules and regulations,” he had said.

He had further said he would welcome all suggestions for the betterment of the hospital and would try his best to utilise the hospital facilities.