Goa's Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said that the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of a state-run hospital, who was suspended by the state's Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, will not be suspended.
Rane suspended the doctor after receiving a complaint from a senior journalist who alleged that the doctor mistreated his mother-in-law in the hospital's casualty ward.
Goa's Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said that the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of a state-run hospital, who was suspended by the state's Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, will not be suspended.
Rane took the action after receiving a complaint from a senior journalist who alleged that the doctor mistreated his mother-in-law in the casualty ward of the Goa Medical College and Hospital, as per PTI.
"I have reviewed the issue at the Goa Medical College and held discussions with the health minister. I want to assure the people of Goa that Dr Rudresh Kuttikar will not be suspended," Sawant posted on X on June 8.
Rane on Saturday said that he will not apologize for standing up to a patient and suspending the latter for "arrogant behaviour" towards a patient.
The doctor was fired in public view and was later suspended by Rane after he "lost his cool" during his surprise visit to the hospital.
As the health minister reached the hospital, he pulled up the CMO for his alleged misbehaviour, saying, "You learn to control your tongue, you are a doctor."
"I generally don't lose my cool but you have to behave yourself. However loaded (burdened with work), you have to behave properly with patients," PTI quoted hi saying.
The state-run hospital, with more than 1,000 beds, provides care to patients from Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Rane told reporters that "Yes, as the health minister, I did intervene and I accept that my tone and words could have been more measured. I am not above reflection or criticism. I take full responsibility for how I communicated, and I assure you such an approach will not be repeated."
"However, what I will not apologise for is standing up for a patient who was denied care," the minister said.
He added that when arrogance seeps into duty, when compassion is replaced with indifference, it is his responsibility to take action.
Rane has faced criticism from Goa branch of the Indian Medical Association, Indian Medical Association and on social media for firing the CMO on duty.
Rane stated that he acted after receiving a complaint from a family member of a senior citizen, who is advised to receive daily injections, but was refused the same at the medical college's casualty ward on a public holiday.
"What made the matter worse was that the casualty (ward) had minimal patient load at the time, and yet, a simple act of compassion and care was withheld. I found this deeply upsetting," the minister mentioned.
A video of the minister walking into the premises of the state-run hospital and interacting with a doctor has surfaced on social media, PTI reported.
"Replace him with another CMO, I will sign the file for his suspension. I want him to be suspended immediately, I usually don't behave rude but I can't tolerate this," Rane said to GMCH medical superintendent Dr Rajsh Patil.