PANAJI
Following the backlash over the episode in which he admonished the Chief Medical Officer Dr Rudresh at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has acknowledged that his tone and words could have been "more measured".
Rane, however, stood his ground for intervening as health minister following a complaint he received from a journalist that the doctor "denied medical care" to his mother-in-law.
"Yes, as the Health Minister, I did intervene and I accept that my tone and words could have been more measured. I’m not above reflection or criticism. I take full responsibility for how I communicated, and I assure you, such an approach will not be repeated," Rane said in a post on micro-blogging site 'X', (formerly Twitter).
Rane went on to add in the tweet: "However, what I will not apologise for, is standing up for a patient who was denied care. Doctors hold a noble position in society, and most of them at GMC serve with great dedication. But when arrogance seeps into duty, when compassion is replaced with indifference, it is my responsibility to take action. Because if we let such behaviour pass unaddressed, we send a message that it is acceptable to deny a senior citizen or any other person medical help. That cannot happen in a government hospital that is meant to serve the public."
