Nagaland Medical Council president Dr Puse Liegise has urged doctors to uphold professional ethics, warning against unethical abortion practices, violations of non-practising allowance (NPA) conditions, pharmaceutical incentives and payments for patient referrals.
Liegise said this while addressing the annual conference and general body meeting of the Nagaland In-Service Doctors’ Association (NIDA) on the theme “Ethical Practice, Compassionate Care”, news agency PTI reported. He stressed compliance with laws governing abortion and reminded government doctors receiving NPA that engaging in private practice could invite action, including recovery of the allowance.
He described financial incentives from pharmaceutical companies to promote specific medicines and payments for referring patients as unethical. He also called for patient confidentiality, informed decision-making, avoidance of harm and equitable treatment.
“Ethics is a matter of the heart. So let us collectively and individually set our hearts right,” he said, adding that compassionate care must preserve patients’ dignity and build trust.
Finance Commissioner Kesonyu Yhome, the special guest, urged NIDA to contribute beyond service-related matters by submitting evidence-based recommendations to address gaps in staffing, procurement, referrals and healthcare infrastructure.
Yhome said public health investment must deliver tangible benefits to patients and families. He stressed that clinical competence must be matched by integrity and empathy, and called for greater emphasis on disease prevention, which he described as more economical than treatment.
He said a healthy population was essential for Nagaland’s economic activity and development. (With PTI inputs)