PANAJI: The ongoing strike by the doctors at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) was called off today afternoon following Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's intervention.
Sawant, who personally visited GMC and met agitating doctors, accepted all the demands put forth by the doctors, including an end to VIP culture in the hospital.
“We have taken this issue very seriously. All demands have been agreed to. A vigilance committee has already been formed, and VIP high-handedness will not be tolerated. I thank the doctors for prioritising patient care,” Sawant said after the meeting. As part of the resolution, a vigilance committee has been constituted, headed by the Secretary of Health, along with the Dean, Medical Superintendent, and concerned HoDs. The CM also ordered the posting of PSIs at GMC outposts and the deployment of an additional 50 police personnel, promising stronger administrative safeguards going forward.
The protest was sparked by an incident on June 7, when Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had a public outburst against Chief Medical Officer Dr Rudresh Kuttikar during a surprise visit to the GMC casualty ward. The confrontation reportedly stemmed from a non-emergency Vitamin B12 injection. He also announced that suspension proceedings would be initiated against the doctor, triggering strong backlash from the medical community.
While Rane later issued an apology on social media, it failed to satisfy many in the medical community. “The Health Minister did not have the grace to visit GMC personally or apologise for his behaviour. His unrepentant attitude for the uncultured and arrogant outburst remains an indelible mark against him,” read a joint statement issued by the United Doctors of GMC.
The group acknowledged that the CM had personally visited GMC and extended a sincere apology to Dr Kuttikar, along with strong assurances that VIP culture would not be allowed to affect the functioning of the hospital in the future. “The CM has given his assurance that such high-handedness and VIP culture will not be tolerated. We are grateful for his intervention,” the statement noted.
The doctors emphasised they had no intention to inconvenience the public. “If this incident escalates into a battle of egos, it will lead to a complete shutdown, which is not our intention. We remain committed to ensuring that every patient at GMC has access to optimum healthcare without VIP interference,” they said.
No strike was formally launched, but to eliminate confusion, doctors declared that there would be no strike whatsoever going forward. They said they will continue to serve the people of Goa while holding firm against VIP interference in patient care. The situation had put Goa’s only tertiary healthcare facility at risk of disruption, and the doctors chose not to escalate the matter. They reiterated a unified stand against VIP culture, calling it detrimental to “genuine patient care.”
“We will not allow GMC to be reduced to a platform for political privilege. This is a hospital for the people, and we will continue our duties responsibly,” the doctors said.
Meanwhile, Dr Madhu Ghodkirekar, Associate Professor of Forensic Medicine at GMC, echoed similar sentiments. “Everyone knows what happened. This was never about personal ego. It was about the dignity of the chair, the institution. We are thankful the CM understood that. We now want to move on,” he said.
In light of the controversy, the CM also directed GMC authorities to put up boards banning photography and videography in hospital interiors to protect patient privacy. “This is not about restricting media but about ensuring patient dignity,” Sawant said, clarifying that media persons will not be barred, only unauthorised filming will.
