March 12, 2002	Tuesday	Zilhaj 27, 1422

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PESHAWAR, March 11: After the ban on private practice outside public sector hospitals, many of the doctors have now started examining patients at places other than their clinics, a survey by Dawn revealed on Monday.

“The ban on the private practice of doctors has almost entered 11th day and they continue to defy the ban,” said one Jamroz Khan, who used to work at a surgeon’s clinic.

According to him, many doctors were finding it extremely hard to cope with the situation arising out of the ban. Some 50 consultants used to earn more than Rs100,000 daily at their clinics.

The government has already removed signboards from their clinics. Some doctors have been issued show cause notices for not cooperating with government.

Some reports also say that surgeons were carrying out operations at their private clinics established in rural areas.

In order to lure the patients many consultants have engaged touts who are usually seen roaming in the Dabdari Gardens - hub of private medical activity.

“I phoned a psychiatrist’s clinic where the ward orderly of the doctor advised me to sneak in from the back door, said Abdul Majeed, who had came Dir district.

Reports from other parts of the province suggest that many doctors have resorted to unethical activities. The touts have also increased their commission from 25 to 50n per cent.

A senior physician who used to see almost 100 patients every day at his clinic has arranged for a Suzuki van to take patients to his house at Hayatabad township where he has a well-equipped clinic.

Some patients, trying to find a doctor of their choice, fall into wrong hands. A case in point is the story of a patient who was brought from Buner district suffering from chest congestion; a tout took him to an ENT specialist. But some surgeons are wise. They are seeing their patients at hospitals established by retired doctors.