Giridih, Sept. 2: Jharkhand’s new health laws clearly prohibit government doctors from maintaining a private practice within 1km radius of government hospitals.

Whatever the laws may be, it seems doctors working at Giridih sadar hospital and other referral hospitals in rural pockets, don’t fall within its purview. Some 19 doctors among 84 working in the district enjoy a private practice — many working right beside the sadar hospital premises on Doctors’ Lane. As hospital sources point out, in this group there are many high-profile names. Deputy superintendent Suresh Brahmachari, AIDS control society chief Rekha Jha, blood bank in-charge of Red Cross Society Kamleshwari Prasad, Sanjiv Sanjay, Alok Kumar and Imran Sikoh — are just some names among the long list.

When asked about his chamber right beside the hospital premises, deputy superintendent Brahmachari retorts: “Why only ask me? There are several other doctors who have their chambers near the sadar hospital.”

Sources in the hospital recently have also been complaining of on-duty doctors idling away in the hospital before rushing to private practices at Doctors’ Lane after shifts.

Similar charges have also been levelled at doctors working in the rural pockets, in referral clinics and hospitals.

More alarmingly, some patients and hospital workers have also reported of “touts” who lure waiting patients away from the hospital to the private chambers.

“Even people at the medicine shops ask us to not go to a hospital, as doctors there don’t stay for long and give better services at private chambers,” said a patient.

While talking to The Telegraph all that civil surgeon Anjani Kumar Mishra could offer was that the matter was being looked into. “We were told about the new law by the health minister. But, we are yet to receive any circular. As soon as we get the circular, we would ensure that doctors stop encroaching in areas falling within 1km radius of a clinic.”