Jaipur,Oct.31,2025:Private Practice Ban Government Doctors marks a significant turning point in the health-governance strategy of the Rajasthan state government. Under directives issued by Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar, doctors serving in government medical institutions must not engage in private practice during official duty hours, and those who opt for Non Practice Allowance (NPA) must fully comply with rules. The policy comes as part of a broader inspection and accountability drive aimed at strengthening public health services and eliminating dual-practice conflicts-
Home, Private Clinic & Duty Time
The Core Directive – No Private Practice During Duty Hours
The crux of the policy is simple: if a medical professional is on duty at a government facility—be it hospital, medical college, or clinic—they cannot simultaneously run a private clinic or treat patients privately at that time. Minister Khimsar emphasised that any violation would lead to direct suspension of the doctor.
NPA (Non-Practice Allowance) Option & its Conditions
Doctors may choose to take the NPA instead of undertaking private practice. However, this is conditional: those who accept NPA must refrain from any form of private practice, including private hospitals or home-based clinics. This aligns with broader guidelines on state medical services across India.
Contractual Doctors & Prescription Restrictions
Contract-based doctors working under the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS) are explicitly barred from issuing prescriptions from their private clinics. The prescription rules state that only “in-service government doctors or doctors from empanelled hospitals” can prescribe under RGHS.
Root Causes Driving the Ban
Mixed Evidence of Private Practice During Duty Time
Studies and audits of private practice by government doctors have raised alarming patterns: absenteeism during duty hours, referrals from government hospitals to private clinics, diminished teaching quality in medical colleges, and weakened public‐health delivery systems.
Erosion of Public Trust and Patient Access
When doctors split their time between public duty and private practice, patient access and quality of care in government hospitals suffer. The policy is intended to restore trust and reliability in public health institutions by ensuring doctors remain fully committed during their duty hours.
Regulatory Gaps and Oversight Weaknesses
Earlier systems had regulatory lacunae: private practice while on duty was often informal and unmonitored. The state government’s move signals an accountability overhaul, with special inspection squads and stricter enforcement mechanisms now being rolled out.
What It Means for Doctors and Patients
For Doctors – Choice, Compliance & Consequences
Government doctors now face a clear decision: either choose private practice and forego NPA, or accept the NPA and refrain entirely from private practice. Failure to comply may result in suspension, introductory proceedings, and reputational damage.
For example, the minister said: “No doctor will do his private practice while on duty. If found doing so, he/she will be directly suspended.”
For Patients – Better Availability and Accountability
For patients relying on public hospitals, this policy aims to offer greater availability of doctors, fewer delays, and more consistent attention during duty hours. It also seeks to curb the diversion of patients from public institutions to private clinics mid-duty.
For the System – Streamlined Monitoring & Fairness
State-wide monitoring—via inspection squads at state, district and block levels—will evaluate medical institutions on adherence to duty hours, absence records, and private practice violations. Officials will hold concerned persons accountable if standards are not met.
Implementation Strategy & Monitoring Mechanisms
Formation of Inspection Teams
The health minister has declared that distinct inspection units will operate at the state, district and block levels. These units will carry out surprise visits, audits and compliance checks across all government hospitals and medical institutes.
Monitoring of Duty Hours and Private Clinic Activity
Inspection teams will check attendance logs, examine if doctors are engaged in private practice during duty hours, and ensure that NPA distribution corresponds with actual compliance—that is, if a doctor is drawing NPA, they must not have a private practice.
Accountability and Penalties
Any institution where the inspection reveals “carelessness or rule violation” will have to identify those responsible and enforce disciplinary action. The policy ensures that not only doctors but administrative officials who failed oversight may face consequences.
Public Health, Accountability and Trust
Strengthening Public Health Services
By enforcing the Private Practice Ban Government Doctors policy, Rajasthan seeks to shift the focus back to public service delivery. More doctors available in government hospitals means better access for patients, especially in underserved areas.
Boosting Transparency and Efficiency
Clear rules, monitoring squads, and transparency in NPA arrangements enhance institutional accountability. Patients and the public can expect clearer standards and fewer conflicts of interest—for example, doctors not being simultaneously tied to private clinics during official time.
Restoring Institutional Confidence
The policy can help restore trust in government health services. When citizens feel that doctors are dedicated during duty hours—rather than diverting effort to private clinics—the image and efficacy of public health institutions improve.
Enforcement, Resistance and Unintended Consequences
Resistance from Medical Professionals
Despite clear directives, some doctors may resist or find ways around the policy—e.g., subtle home-based consultations, early closure of duty hospitals, referrals to private clinics, etc. Monitoring these effectively will require robust systems.
Adequacy of Duty Hours Coverage
Ensuring that doctors stay on duty and deliver quality care can only succeed if public hospitals are sufficiently staffed, resourced and supported. If the enforcement drives doctors away or creates shortages, patients may suffer.
Unintended Impact on Private and Public Healthcare Balance
While the policy aims to curb dual practice, there is potential for unintended impacts: doctors might abandon public service in favour of full-time private practice if they feel restricted. This could drive a brain-drain from public institutions—something state policy needs to anticipate.
The rollout of the Private Practice Ban Government Doctors policy in Rajasthan is a bold step toward reinforcing public health, accountability, and trust. With clear directives against private practice during duty hours, robust monitoring and strict consequences, the state government sends a strong message: public healthcare institutions must be run with full commitment and transparency.
