Bihar Bars Govt Doctors from Private Practice to Boost Public Healthcare

The Bihar government led by Nitish Kumar has announced a sweeping ban on private practice by doctors employed in government hospitals, in a move aimed at strengthening the public healthcare system.

The decision, announced on Saturday, bars all government doctors from engaging in private practice alongside their official duties, mandating full-time commitment to state-run health facilities.

Push to strengthen public healthcare

According to a notification issued by the state Health Department, the move is part of the government’s flagship programme ‘Saat Nischay-3’ for the 2025–30 period.

Under the resolution “accessible health, secure life,” the state has decided to prohibit private practice by government doctors to improve efficiency, accountability and patient care in public hospitals.

Officials said detailed guidelines on implementation and enforcement will be issued soon.

Compensation through allowance

To offset the loss of private income, the government is planning to introduce a non-practising allowance (NPA) for doctors, subject to approval by the competent authority.

The provision is expected to apply to all government doctors as well as faculty members working in state-run medical institutions.

Policy signalled earlier

The move had been signalled earlier by Kumar during his ‘Samriddhi Yatra’ in West Champaran in January, where he had indicated that the government was working on a policy to curb private practice and improve healthcare infrastructure.

A structural shift

The ban marks a significant policy shift in Bihar’s healthcare system, aiming to ensure that government doctors devote their full attention to public hospitals — a long-standing concern in the state’s medical services.

If implemented effectively, the decision could help improve availability of doctors, reduce absenteeism and strengthen trust in the public healthcare system.