Agartala, 23rd June 2026: Tripura Cabinet has resolved that faculty members of Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and medical officers at GB Pant Hospital will no longer be permitted to engage in private practice. The move, chaired by the Chief Minister in his capacity as Health Minister, aims to strengthen public healthcare delivery and address long-standing concerns about patient satisfaction.
Speaking to media personnel at Secretariat on Tuesday evening, Cabinet Spokesperson and Food Minister Sushanta Chowdhury clarified: “Faculty members and medical officers at AGMC and GB Pant Hospital are barred from private practice while holding government positions. In return, they will receive a 20% hike on their basic pay as Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA). If anyone wishes to continue private practice, they are free to resign, but they cannot do both.”
The Minister emphasized that this is a Cabinet decision, not merely a departmental order, and will soon be formalized through a notification. “The Health Secretary presented the proposal, citing examples from AIIMS Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and other states where similar measures have long been in place. The Cabinet unanimously approved it. This time, unlike during the Left regime when such proposals remained departmental, the decision has full Cabinet backing,” Chowdhury noted.
Initially, the directive will apply only to AGMC and GB Pant Hospital. The Chief Minister described the move as a case study, explaining that while infrastructure at GB Hospital is being enhanced, complaints about public satisfaction persist. Based on the outcome, the government may extend the policy across the state.
The Cabinet Spokesperson further stated: “Once the Cabinet minutes are released within two to three days, the Health Department will issue a notification, followed by gazette publication. The order will take immediate effect.”
This decision, supported by recommendations from AIIMS representatives and the 16th Finance Commission, marks Tripura’s first formal step toward curbing private practice among government doctors while incentivizing them with higher pay.
