Bengal govt. slapped us with punishment postings: doctors
Senior resident doctors, who were the face of R.G. Kar protests in West Bengal, accused the State government of slapping them with 'punishment postings' as a backlash for protesting against the government, on Tuesday. They cited the postings of doctors Debasish Haldar, Aniket Mahato, and Asfakullah Naiya, which were different from the places they had opted for during the counselling.
Dr. Haldar, a postgraduate from Medical College in Kolkata, had requested the West Bengal Health Department for a posting in the Department of Anaesthesiology at Howrah District Hospital. However, according to an official release, he was ordered to join the Gazole State General Hospital in Malda district.
Doctors alleged that the post to which Dr. Haldar was shifted did not exist before the counselling sessions, which were held at Swastha Bhawan (Health Department headquarters) on February 27, and was 'created' as a form of 'punishment'.
Dr. Mahato, a postgraduate in anaesthesiology at R.G. Kar, had opted to complete his senior residency at the same college but was posted to Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital in Uttar Dinajpur district. 'I chose Howrah GH, and according to my rank, they allotted it to me. But after the lists were published, I saw that everyone got the postings of their choice except me. This can be a form of revenge,' he said.
Dr. Mahato questioned that if the Health Department had conducted transparent counselling processes and assigned postings accordingly, then why did the final lists not reflect the same? 'We do not mind going to any corner of the State to perform our duties as medical professionals, but the process should be transparent,' Dr. Mahato added.
Several doctors with a similar plight protested outside the State Health Department office in Salt Lake, waiting for answers from the Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam. Mr. Nigam told the doctors to file official complaints with the Health Department. He also refuted allegations of 'punishment postings'.
Indiscriminate postings
In a similar incident, on March 20, senior doctor Subarna Goswami, a Bengal-based senior physician and public health administrator who was vocal during the movement, was transferred from the post of Deputy Chief Medical Officer Health (CMOH)-II at Purba Bardhaman district to Superintendent at Darjeeling TB Hospital in North Bengal.
Dr. Goswami claimed that the transfer was a 'vindictive step by the administration,' while sources in the Health Department described it as 'routine.'
The series of transfers and postings have led to criticism within the State's medical fraternity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
UAE Health Ministry ends birth and death certification service: What you need to know
In a sweeping administrative change, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has officially ended its role in issuing birth and death certificates. These vital registration services are now handled by Emirates Health Services (EHS) in the northern emirates, while Dubai and Abu Dhabi continue under their respective local health authorities. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The transition was made quietly, with MoHAP removing all related service options from its website and discontinuing its WhatsApp-based application system. Residents are now required to navigate a decentralised process based on their emirate of residence. What Has Changed? MoHAP has withdrawn from issuing birth and death certificates. Emirates Health Services (EHS) is now responsible in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Abu Dhabi's Department of Health (DoH) continue to manage services locally. (DHA) and Abu Dhabi's Department of Health (DoH) continue to manage services locally. Certificates issued by EHS, DHA, or DoH are fully equivalent to those formerly issued by MoHAP. BIRTH CERTIFICATES: How It Works Now Who Can Apply? Parents (of any nationality), legal guardians, or authorised delegates. Where to Apply? Via the EHS website (requires UAE Pass) Through the Mabrouk Ma Yak platform (for Emiratis only) At EHS public health centres or hospitals Documents Needed: Valid Emirates ID and passport for both parents Hospital-issued, certified birth notification Electronic civil record Marriage certificate or notarised parentage document For UAE citizens with births abroad: Return tickets ID and passports of both parents Attested marriage certificate For complex cases (e.g., prison births): Court-issued documents Letters from correctional facilities or social services Birth notifications Fees & Turnaround (Converted to INR) Birth Certificate in Arabic: AED 65 (~₹1,470) English Copy (optional): AED 65 (~₹1,470) Time to Issue: 1 working day DEATH CERTIFICATES: Procedure and Conditions Who Can Apply? Immediate family members or legally authorised persons. Where to Apply? Through the EHS online portal At a designated public health centre or hospital Documents Required: Emirates ID or passport of the deceased No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Ministry of Interior Official death report In suspicious or unknown-cause deaths: Forensic report Name consistency across all documents is mandatory International Use: Certificates must be attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the embassy of the relevant foreign country. Fees & Timelines (Converted to INR) Death Certificate in Arabic: AED 65 (~₹1,470) English Copy (optional): AED 65 (~₹1,470) Time to Issue: 5 minutes for e-certificates Physical copy available upon in-person visit Service Hours Monday to Thursday: 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM Friday: 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM Why the Change Matters The UAE is continuing its trend of devolving administrative authority to regional bodies, particularly for citizen services. Emirates Health Services already manages most public healthcare in the northern emirates, making it a natural successor to MoHAP in handling life-event documentation. The Bottom Line The next time you need a birth or death certificate in the UAE, MoHAP is no longer your go-to authority. Depending on where you live, you'll be interacting with EHS, DHA, or DoH—with new procedures, slightly altered fees, and a greater push toward digital verification. While the transition might be procedural, it signals a larger shift in how civil documentation is administered across the UAE—more digital, more localised, and firmly tied to regional health systems. (Exchange rate used: 1 AED = ₹22.60)
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
KKR, TPG eye Relisys Medical Devices in early-stage buyout talks
MUMBAI : Relisys Medical Devices is in early-stage discussions with global private equity firms KKR and TPG for a potential ₹1,200–1,300 crore investment, with the transaction likely to offer a full or partial exit to existing investor Siguler Guff, two people familiar with the matter told Mint. 'While TPG is evaluating the company to strengthen its portfolio, KKR is in discussions with the medical devices maker to build out its med-tech platform under which it acquired Healthium Medtech last year from Apax Funds," one of the people cited above said. TPG, too, may look at developing a med-tech platform of its own, the person added. A majority of the proceeds from the transaction, if it materialises, will likely be secondary in nature, enabling Siguler Guff to partially or fully exit. A smaller primary infusion may also be included to fund Relisys's expansion plans, said the second person. Both private equity firms are expected to seek a controlling stake in the Hyderabad-based medical devices maker. In secondary deals, existing shareholders sell their stakes to other investors and the company doesn't receive any new capital. Such shares are usually traded at a discount to primary equity. While KKR declined to comment, TPG, Siguler Guff, Healthium, and Relisys did not respond to Mint's mails sent on Sunday. Also read: Zydus bets big on vaccines and medtech In February, VCCircle had reported that o3 Capital, a mid-market investment bank, was advising Relisys in its search for potential buyers. The report also noted that existing investor Siguler Guff was exploring a full or partial exit, alongside the company's founders, in a transaction then estimated to be valued at $50–70 million ( ₹435–610 crore). Company background Founded in 1997 by technocrats and clinicians, Relisys Medical Devices manufactures cardiovascular products like drug-eluting stents, balloon catheters, diagnostic catheters, and transcatheter heart valves. It also acquired Multimedics in 2018 to expand its stent-making capabilities globally. In FY24, the company reported revenue of ₹169.4 crore, up slightly from ₹162.7 crore a year earlier. Net profit rose marginally to ₹36.3 crore, according to data from Tracxn. The bustling deal activity in the sector also underscores the growing investor appetite for med-tech companies in India. Some notable transactions include Meril Life Sciences $210 million funding from Warburg Pincus which also invested about $300 million in Appasamy Associates. SMT raised $150 million from Samara Capital while Translumina raised around $90 million from Everstone Capital. Also read: Health ministry to set up a panel to review medical device-related adverse events Sector outlook India's $12 billion med-tech market is projected to hit $50 billion by 2030, according to EY. Despite $3.8 billion in exports last fiscal, the country is still heavily import-dependent, with imports at $8.2 billion, making up 80–85% of domestic consumption. Growth is expected to be driven by rising income levels, wider insurance coverage, medical tourism, and rapid healthcare infrastructure expansion in Tier 2 and 3 cities. EY noted that global MNCs are increasingly choosing India for R&D, manufacturing, and global capability centers (GCCs)—further strengthening the ecosystem. Also read: India eyes global pharma dominance with a ₹5,000 crore revitalisation plan
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
Apollo Hospitals plans to sell maternity care arm
Apollo Hospitals Enterprises, India's largest private hospital chain, plans to sell Apollo Cradle and Children's Hospital (ACCHL), a chain of maternity and infant care hospitals , multiple people familiar with the development said. Apollo has hired Allegro Capital to find a buyer for the asset, which is likely to be valued at ₹1,000-1,200 crore, they said. The sale process has been launched and the banker has sounded out to a bunch of leading private equity funds . An email sent to Apollo Hospitals spokesperson for comments on Friday did not elicit any responses till the press time on Sunday. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Schlechter Stuhlgang? Diese Methode funktioniert wie "auf Knopfdruck" Darmschutz Ratgeber Undo ACCHL, a subsidiary of Apollo Specialty Hospitals, has about 363 beds under 13 hospitals across cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Amritsar, Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad. For the year ended March 2024, ACCHL recorded a net loss of ₹17 lakh, according to Apollo's annual report. The mother and child care market in India is estimated at about ₹30,000 crore a year and is expected to grow 15% compounded annually over the next few years. The market is currently dominated by a handful of private hospitals such as Apollo Cradle, Hyderabad-based Rainbow Children's Medicare , and Bengaluru-based chains Motherhood, Cloudnine Hospitals and Kangaroo Care. Live Events British International Investment Plc-backed Rainbow got listed in 2022 and has a market cap of ₹14,260 crore as of Friday. Motherhood is backed by TPG Growth and Singapore's GIC, while Cloudnine is backed by domestic PE fund True North, TPG NewQuest, Temasek and Peak XV. Indira IVF, the country's largest fertility clinics chain owned by EQT Partners, entered into maternity and childcare with the launch of MatCare Maternity & Child Hospital in March. Private equity firm SeaLink Capital Partners and the promoters of Surya Children's Medicare are, meanwhile, looking to sell a majority stake in western India's largest children's hospital chain. A deal is expected to value the company at ₹1,000-1,200 crore, ET reported last year. As of March 31, 2024, Apollo Hospitals had a capacity of 10,134 beds across 73 hospitals in India and overseas. Of these, 8,710 beds are located in 45 owned hospitals, 271 beds in 11 daycare/short surgical stay centres, and 790 beds in six hospitals under management through operations and management contracts.
