The health ministry will provide ID cards to eligible doctors

Kathmandu, July 29

The Ministry of Health has granted approval to its employees, including doctors, to carry out private practice and trade in times other than office hours.

A notice issued by Medical Services Division under the MoH earlier this week said that a decision to this effect was taken as per the Health Service Act, Health Service Regulation and Procedure on Incentives of Employees of the MoH. Nearly 1,000 doctors and health workers had submitted application to the ministry, seeking approval for carrying out private practice.

According to the act, no employee shall, without prior approval of ministry, participate in the  establishment, registration or operation of any bank or company or to open and operate any health clinic or private hospital or nursing home or work in such health clinic or private hospital. Similarly, it requires an employee to obtain approval to carry out any trade or profession and to accept any kind of  job

Those who have not submitted application or whose application is under consideration will not be allowed to engage in private practice and trade, said the ministry. Earlier, it had invited application from employees willing to carry out private practice and trade without hampering the daily business of their office.

According to the ministry, it will issue an ID card to doctors and employees deemed eligible to carry out private practice and trade in times other than office hours. Over 33,000 doctors, health workers and employees are working under the ministry.

If any organisation, health clinic and hospital engages any salaried employee,  who has not obtained approval for private practice, in its work, it may face legal action and be denied renewal of its registration.