Agartala, June 23: The Tripura government has decided to restrict private practice by faculty members and medical officers posted at Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and GBP Hospital.

With this move, the State Cabinet has also approved a 20 percent hike on their basic pay as Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA), minister Sushanta Chowdhury announced on Tuesday at a press conference at the Civil Secretariat on Tuesday.

Under the new decision, faculty members and medical officers attached to AGMC and GBP Hospital will no longer be permitted to engage in private practice.

Chowdhury said the proposal, which had earlier been deferred for further examination, was cleared after detailed discussions in the Cabinet. He noted that the move is in line with recommendations made by an AIIMS New Delhi delegation and the 16th Finance Commission.

Around 350 faculty members and medical officers are expected to come under the ambit of the decision.

The minister said the government expects the measure to improve patient care and strengthen the functioning of Tripura's premier government healthcare institutions by ensuring doctors remain fully committed to their official duties.

He added that unlike previous departmental directives on the issue, the latest decision has been approved by the Cabinet, giving it more importance. Doctors unwilling to comply with the decision will have the option to resign from government service, he noted.

In another important decision, the council of ministers has approved a proposal for recruitment of 186 Junior Multitasking Operators, Chowdhury said.

He said that recruitment for the Group-C posts would be carried out by the Joint Recruitment Board of Tripura (JRBT).