Doctor threatens officers for exposing private practice

KADUGANNAWA: A doctor from Kadugannawa base hospital has threatened investigating officers who visited the hospital to expose doctors indulging in private practice during office hours, Health Ministry sources said.

The group had nabbed the district medical officer and another female doctor indulging in private practice during office hours when they visited the hospital.

When the doctors were questioned about violating Ministry orders by the officers, a doctor from this hospital and a group of thugs had threatened them, sources said. The officers had lodged a complaint at the Kadugannawa police station.

The doctor and the group of thugs had threatened the officers even after they made statements to the Kadugannawa Hospital Chief Medical Officer about private practice by doctors during office hours.

Doctors were granted permission to carry out private practice outside their office hours - 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., while private practice during office hours were completely prohibited.

Health Services Director General Dr. Athula Kahandaliyage had directed the Central Province Health Services Secretary to take disciplinary action against the doctor who had threatened the officers.