Agartala, June 26: The decision to ban private practice by doctors associated with the Agartala Government Medical College and Gobind Ballabh Pant Hospital was taken after due consultation and in public interest, Health Secretary Kiran Gitte said on Thursday.

Explaining the rationale behind the decision, the Health Secretary said that in most of States the doctors working in Medical Colleges and attached hospital are not allowed to do private practice in the interest of the medical education as well as provision of quality health services.

When the Agartala Government Medical College was set up in 2005, there was a proposal not to allow the private practicebut it could not materialize.

States like Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra have put total ban on private practice by the Government doctors. While States like Kerala, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan have restricted private practice by doctors in the Medical Colleges and administrative posts.

Dr M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi had visited AGMC and GBPH in 2025 and had submitted report to the State Government to upgrade the institution as Centre of Excellence. Report has recommended complete ban on private practice of doctors working in Agartala Government Medical College and Gobind Ballabh Pant Hospital for improving the quality of medical education as well as health services.

He said, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha had held detail consultations with the All Tripura Government Doctors Association and AGMC Teachers Forum on 21st June 2026. Both the associations have unanimously supported the proposal to stop the private practice by the Government doctors. They had suggested inclusion of DA increase based on NPA, timely promotions and certain academic and research support.

State Government is working on the amendment of Tripura Medical Education Service Rules for creation of adequate posts to ensure timely promotions of the faculty members. The Council of Ministers has decided to sanction 20% of Basic Pay as Non Practising Allowance as well as allowing to calculate Dearness Allowance on the Basic Pay and NPA.

In recent years, State Government has recruited adequate faculty members, doctors, senior residents to cater to the increased academic as well as health service demands at the AGMC and GBPH. For super specialty services, contractual doctors are engaged for fixed tenure. With faculty members devoting more time to the AGMC and GBPH, it would be possible to start Super Specialty coursed in near future.

The Health Secretary expressed confidence about the improvement in quality of medical education as well as tertiary health services as the doctors posted at AGMC and GBPH have shown commitment and dedication to the public health at large.