Tripura Cabinet Takes Landmark Decision: Private Practice Banned for GB Pant and AGMC Doctors, Salary Incentives Announced
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, June 23, 2026
In a major policy decision aimed at strengthening public healthcare services in Tripura, the state Cabinet has approved a proposal prohibiting senior doctors serving at Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital (GBP Hospital) and Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) from engaging in private medical practice.
Announcing the decision, Minister Sushanta Chowdhury stated that doctors working in these premier government healthcare institutions will no longer be allowed to run private chambers or provide private consultations outside their official duties. To compensate for the restriction, the government has decided to provide an additional 25 percent of the basic salary to eligible doctors.
According to the minister, the move is intended to ensure that senior specialists and experienced physicians devote their full professional attention to government hospitals, thereby improving patient care, reducing waiting times, and enhancing the overall quality of healthcare services available to the public.
The Cabinet has reportedly made it clear that doctors unwilling to accept the new policy may choose to resign from government service. The government believes that a dedicated full-time medical workforce is essential for strengthening the state's healthcare infrastructure and ensuring better treatment facilities for citizens.
In another significant decision, the Cabinet approved the recruitment of 186 Junior Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) positions in the health sector. The move is expected to address manpower shortages and improve administrative and support services in hospitals and healthcare institutions across the state.
The decision has generated widespread discussion among medical professionals and the public. Supporters of the policy have welcomed the move, arguing that governmentemployed doctors should focus entirely on public service and that patients visiting government hospitals deserve access to senior specialists during official working hours. Many have described the decision as a bold and long-awaited reform in the state's healthcare system.
However, concerns have also been raised regarding its possible impact. Some observers fear that a number of experienced doctors may opt to leave government service in favour of more lucrative opportunities in the private sector. Others have questioned whether the current doctor-patient ratio in Tripura is sufficient to support such a transition without affecting healthcare delivery.
Several citizens have also expressed concern that access to experienced specialists could become more difficult for patients who traditionally consulted senior government doctors in their private chambers. Critics argue that unless the government simultaneously increases the number of physicians and strengthens hospital infrastructure, the policy may place additional pressure on an already stretched healthcare system.
Healthcare experts note that the success of the initiative will largely depend on effective implementation, strict monitoring, and the government's ability to retain skilled medical professionals while expanding healthcare manpower.
The Cabinet's decision marks one of the most significant reforms in Tripura's public health sector in recent years and is expected to have far-reaching implications for both healthcare providers and patients across the state.
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