Apropos of the rightness or otherwise of this stance, I don't think "specialist physicians" typically fall into the category of people who "cannot afford 2 phones".

I agree. Neither do top industry execs, top sales personnel, etc. It seems from most of the comments that even in lieu of a work phone, compensation for a mobile plan is normal and expected most places. I may be mistaken, but the culture of large healthcare orgs does seem to promote an expectation that the employees be more altruistic then would be expected elsewhere, even within the employer-employee relationship.