It will get tough for doctors of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), the state’s biggest government-owned hospital, to continue with their private practice.

A three-member special vigilance unit by the health department was formed on Tuesday to keep watch on RIMS doctors who engage in private practice despite getting a non-practising allowance every month.

A citizen who knows that a RIMS doctor practises privately on the side can call up a member of the vigilance team.

The health department has made public the cellphone numbers of the three members — additional secretary of health department Chandra Kishore Oraon as chairman, and NACO deputy director (information) Animesh Nachiketa and medical officer (health directorate, Namkum) Dr L.N. Pradeep Bara.

Oraon’s number is 9471162067, Nachiketa’s is 9771615425 and Bara’s is 8789669877.

Oraon told The Telegraph that this step was taken after health officials got regular complaints that many RIMS doctors did not give up their lucrative private practice.

“Private practice by RIMS doctors has been a matter of concern for long,” he said. “If citizens help us (with information), it will be good for public healthcare.”

A health official said that RIMS doctors engaged in private practice often do it at the cost of serving poor patients at the state-run hospital.

RIMS director Dr D.K. Singh welcomed the new vigilance unit. “It will create a sense of fear among those who do private practice,” he said. “Once RIMS doctors stop private practice, service at this premier government hospital will improve further.”

Asked, a junior doctor said the success of the vigilance unit depended on how it functioned. “Maybe tips over the phone will help, but unless a dummy patient goes to the doctor’s chamber, I don’t see how concrete information can be obtained,” he said.