PESHAWAR, July 4: Taking exception to the complaints that many doctors have been carrying out their private practice along with the institution-based practice (IBP), NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has asked the officials of the health department to initiate disciplinary action against the defiant doctors.

According to an official of the provincial health department, the governor has issued directives to all the relevant health officials, including the chief executives of the teaching hospitals and medical superintendents of district headquarters hospitals to keep vigil on the doctors.

The NWFP government introduced the IBP in the official hospitals on March 1, 2002, in order to streamline the private medical practice of the doctors and purge it of corruption. The decision has widely been appreciated by the public.

Meanwhile, some of the doctors tendered resignations against the government’s decision while a majority of them complied with the directives and joined the IBP.

Lately, it was reported that a majority of the doctors had been doing the IBP in government hospitals along with their private practices. According to the health department officials, the governor has issued directives to all the officials concerned to probe into the matter and take strict action against those violating the government orders.