Tripura government doctors stop private practice

Government doctors in Tripura have stopped private practice from Saturday following a high court ruling.

The All Tripura Government Doctors' Association (ATGDA) and the Tripura chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have opposed the ban and filed a review petition before the Tripura High Court.

Earlier this week, a delegation of both the associations led by P.K. Paul met Health Secretary M. Nagaraju and pressed for withdrawal of the health department order banning private practice.

The department issued the order following the court ruling on May 29, saying that the government doctors should not indulge in private practice but concentrate on government hospitals only.

Paul told reporters that the health secretary told them that the state government had passed the order based on the high court judgment and unless the court reconsiders the matter, the "government can hardly do anything".

On Saturday, a large number of patients knocked on the private clinics of government doctors, who asked them to go to hospitals.

"Proper consultations with the doctors are not possible in the government hospitals due to a large number of patients in the hospitals. Besides, specialist doctors would not be available all the time," said Bimal Roy, who was there with his ailing mother but most of the chambers of the doctors were closed.

Meanwhile, state Health Minister Badal Choudhury said his government would not allow the government doctors to continue with private practice in public interest. - IANSThe Telangana government on Saturday urged the external affairs ministry to take steps for the safe and early release of two Telugu men kidnapped by suspected Islamic State militants in Libya.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao hoped that Balram Kishan of Telangana and T. Gopikrishna of Andhra Pradesh will safely return home.

In a statement here, he said the state government was in touch with the central government, who in turn is coordinating with the authorities in Libya for safe release of the abductees.

Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma on Saturday wrote a letter to the external affairs secretary in this regard.

Chief Minister's Office (CMO) and Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi are in regular touch with the ministry of external affairs for the updates, said a statement from the CMO.

Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said he also spoke to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and urged her to expedite the efforts to secure release of the two men.

He also congratulated her for securing the safe release of two other men, hailing from Karnataka.

The four Indians, all teachers at University of Sirte, were returning to India via Tripoli and Tunis on July 29 when they were detained at a check point, 50 km from Sirte.

While Lakshmikant and Vijay Kumar Awere released on Friday, there is still no word about the two Telugu men. - IANS