PANAJI
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday kicked up a huge row when he 'suspended' a senior doctor attached to the State's premier health institution -- Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim -- in controversial circumstances.
Rane himself went to the GMC with a set of video-journalists in tow, calling it a 'surprise visit' and verbally gave the doctor a telling down. His high-pitched reprimanding of the doctor was all caught on camera and the video has gone viral on social media since.
As the video shows, Rane even threatened the doctor of ejection from the hospital using the security personnel.
According to Rane, he conducted the "surprise visit" to the GMC after he received a complaint from a journalist about the doctor's conduct when he had taken a relative for treatment.
In the viral video Rane is heard saying: "You get out from here, I’m telling you to go home or I'll get security to throw you out."
Rane also instructed GMC officials to issue the suspension orders to Dr Rudresh, who is Chief Medical Officer (CMO), by Sunday morning.
GMC sources told The Goan that the incident which led to the minister's action was related to a journalist who had come to the hospital for administering a B12 injection to one of his relatives.
Dr Rudresh reportedly told him that the injection can be administered at any of the primary or urban health centres and not the GMC.
"This infuriated the journalist and he called up the GMC Dean Dr S Bandekar who then made arrangements for the injection to be administered at the hospital itself. But the journalist also sent a message to the minister," the GMC source said.
The Indian Medical Association Goa State Branch, meanwhile, condemned the behaviour of Health Minister Vishwajit Rane which kicked up a major controversy.
In a press note, IMA (Goa Branch) said: "Such an action is deeply regrettable and unacceptable. It not only bypasses due process and natural justice but also disregards the professional dignity and morale of the entire medical community. We strongly condemn this arbitrary and high-handed behaviour that has humiliated and victimized a dedicated medical professional in full view of the public and media."
“Any grievance, no matter how serious, should be addressed through a fair, transparent and structured inquiry," the press note signed by IMA Goa president Dr Dattaram Desai and Secretary Dr Aaron Soares, said.
