SWABI, March 7: Majority of specialist doctors may opt for resignation from the government service instead of joining the institution-based private practice because they were earning thousands of rupees at their clinics, claimed doctors here on Thursday.

Requesting anonymity, a medical officer said the ultimate victim of the government policy would be the patients, if the senior doctors resigned or were fired. He said the senior doctors would be replaced by fresh ones and their services would no longer be available in the morning, creating problems for the patients.

He said that with the introduction of institution-based private practice, the patients may be asked to visit the hospitals in the evening, forcing each of them to pay Rs200 to Rs300.

The doctors claimed the government hospitals had neither adequate health facilities nor the capacity to absorb all the patients and in the long run it may be very difficult to close the private practice.

A specialist, who has been running his clinic and working at government hospitals for the last 12 years, said: “I would certainly resign from service. No one could stop me from private practice.”

The doctors said they had been informed by some insiders that raids on their clinics could not be ruled out.

Some of them have removed their signboards but those who have decided to resign continue their practice.

On the other hand, those supporting the government policy are of the view that when the institution-based practice gains momentum, the hospitals would no longer give a deserted look, compelling the pharmaceutical companies to decorate them.

The district health officer said those who opposed the policy should resign to provide an opportunity to those who wanted to join the government service.

A number of patients told Dawn that they were being referred to the Peshawar hospitals even for minor treatment.

Some people welcomed the institution-based practice alleging that the doctors had been using the hospitals as “bargain spots” advising majority of the patients to visit their private clinics.