Mizoram stops pvt practice by NPA-drawing govt doctors

Aizawl: The Mizoram Resource Mobilisation Committee (MRMC), chaired by CM Lalduhoma, on Monday said private practice by govt doctors receiving non-practising allowance (NPA) has been stopped.The committee reviewed its April 23, 2024 decision that govt doctors drawing NPA must not engage in private practice. A report submitted by the state health & family welfare department said Mizoram has 452 govt doctors, of whom 347 receive NPA and 105 do not. The report said doctors availing NPA are not engaged in private practice.Citing the Mizoram Health Services Rules, 2009, and Mizoram Gazette notifications dated Feb 18, 2010, along with an amendment issued on Dec 18, 2024, the committee said govt doctors, including non-clinical staff, are prohibited from private practice while drawing NPA. It also noted that where private practice is permitted, prior govt approval is mandatory. The meeting discussed mechanisms to ensure continued enforcement.The MRMC also discussed identifying businesses in Aizawl city that are liable for GST registration but remain unregistered. It decided the exercise would be carried out jointly with the Aizawl City Local Council Association, with follow-up action by the taxation department.On requests from taxation officials to carry arms during raids or verification drives for self-protection, the committee observed that, in line with practices followed by the Centre and other states, coordination with the home department may be considered whenever necessary.The committee further discussed the Administrative Reforms Commission (2019) recommendation to limit file movement to four levels of officers. It decided to suggest a modified pilot implementation in selected departments through the department of personnel & administrative reforms (DP&AR). Under the proposed arrangement, a department would have either an under secretary or a seputy secretary, but not both; and if a joint secretary is posted, there would be no additional secretary, and vice versa. DP&AR will identify departments for the pilot.The meeting was attended by MRMC vice chairman Pu Haukhuma Hauzel and other members.