Top News

Goa's Health Minister and CMO Clash

In a surprising turn of events, Dr. Pramod Sawant, the Chief Minister of Goa, announced on Sunday that Dr. Rudresh Kurtekar, the Casualty Medical Officer at Goa Medical College, will not be suspended despite earlier orders from Health Minister Vishwajit Rane. This decision follows a public confrontation between Rane and Dr. Kurtekar, which has sparked significant outrage within the state's medical community. The controversy began on Saturday, June 8, when Health Minister Rane visited Goa Medical College for an inspection. He confronted Dr. Kurtekar in front of hospital staff and patients after receiving a complaint that the doctor had refused to administer an injection to a patient.

Viral Video of the Incident

Footage of the incident quickly went viral, showing Rane yelling at Dr. Kurtekar, accusing him of negligence and unprofessional conduct. In the video, Rane is seen reprimanding the doctor for allegedly refusing to give an injection to an elderly woman. He aggressively stated, "You are a doctor serving the poor... I am suspending you." Following this, he ordered the medical superintendent to relieve the doctor of his duties immediately, asserting that he would not be reinstated during Rane's tenure as health minister.

Reactions from Medical Associations

The manner in which Minister Rane addressed Dr. Kurtekar has drawn sharp criticism from various medical associations. The Goa Association of Resident Doctors (GARD) condemned the incident, labeling it public humiliation and an arbitrary suspension of the doctor. The association demanded the immediate withdrawal of the suspension order, a public apology from Rane, and a fair investigation into the matter. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Goa also denounced Rane's behavior, describing it as an "emotional attack" on the doctor and questioning the fairness of the suspension while calling for an inquiry. Additionally, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) expressed its "deep anguish" over the incident, accusing Rane of abusing his power and undermining medical ethics.

Minister Rane Defends His Actions

In response to the backlash, Minister Vishwajit Rane defended his actions through a social media post. He claimed that he acted in defense of an elderly woman who was allegedly denied medical care. Rane stated, "I will not apologize for standing up for a patient who was deprived of care." He acknowledged that his "tone and words could have been more balanced," admitting that his approach was harsh but emphasized that denying care was unacceptable. Rane explained that the woman had visited the casualty ward on a public holiday when the outpatient department was closed, and Dr. Kurtekar reportedly refused to give her a vitamin injection. He argued that such acts of "compassion and care" should not have been obstructed, especially when the casualty ward was not busy.

---