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Time of India
01-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Tiwari, seniormost GMC doctor, named new dean
Panaji: Dr Jai Prakash Tiwari , professor of nephrology, was appointed as the new Dean of Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) by the govt on Tuesday. Dr Shivanand Bandekar retired as the Dean on Monday. For the last four years, the govt did not appoint Tiwari as GMC dean despite him being the most senior doctor at GMC as per the seniority list. This is the second time the govt has issued an order to appoint Tiwari as dean. Tiwari joined GMC in 1995 and became a professor in 2001. He was instrumental in setting up the dialysis and kidney transplant facility for the first time at the state's premier . He was also instrumental in starting a specialised course called DM Nephrology, which is offered in a few govt-run medical colleges. Since 2021, the Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC) has been recommending Tiwari's name for the top post at GMC. In 2022, the personnel department under chief minister Pramod Sawant issued an order to appoint Tiwari as dean, but a few hours later, health minister Vishwajit Rane requested Sawant to keep the order in abeyance. Bandekar was appointed dean in February 2019 after former Dean Dr Pradeep Naik was asked to report to the office of the public health department. Earlier, the state govt rejected the recommendation of the GPSC. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
'Had meeting with doctors, passed all 7 of their demands': Goa CM on GMC doctors' strike
Goa's medical fraternity called off their strike after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant accepted their seven demands, addressing concerns over Health Minister Vishwajit Rane's verbal abuse of a senior doctor. The government signed an MOU, promising increased security measures and a commitment to prevent future incidents. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the state government accepted all seven demands put forth by the medical fraternity at the Goa Medical College GMC ) who had been protesting against State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane for allegedly using harsh language with a senior meeting protesting doctors at Goa Medical College, Goa CM Pramod Sawant said, "They (doctors) had given us a 48-hour intimation. Yesterday I had a meeting with the doctors. They presented their demands to me. I passed all 7 of their demands.""Such incidents should not happen again. The committee, henceforth, should be headed by Secretary Health, Dean MS and concerned Head of Department. For Police protection purpose, at our Police outpost here, PSI will be deputed and additional 50 Police personnel will be deputed at the casualty level, at the emergency level and including the ICU level in the interest of people," he Goa Chief Minister also thanked the doctors for ending the strike and said, "I thank the doctors for calling off their strike. As a Chief Minister, I will also keep looking into the matter from time to time."Goa doctors on Tuesday called off their planned strike against Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, who used harsh language against Dr Rudresh Kuttikar during a visit to the Goa Medical College and Minister was accused of humiliating and disrespecting the senior doctor during an inspection.A massive protest broke out at Goa Medical College (GMC) on Monday as doctors, Heads of Departments, interns, and medical students united in anger against Health Minister Vishwajit doctors at the GMC demanded a public apology and an end to the VIP culture in this, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant visited the state-run Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) near Panaji to address the concerns of protesting the visit, he assured the doctors that their demands would be met, paving the way for resolving the ongoing dispute.A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the doctors and the government. The MOU outlines the terms agreed upon by both parties, paving the way for improved hospital safety and security measures."A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed, outlining the terms agreed upon by both Security: Additional police force and security measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of doctors and hospital staff. The government has assured that there will be no tolerance for abuse or threats towards doctors and hospital staff. The doctors have emphasised that patient care will not be compromised and will remain their top priority", said Dr Ayush Sharma (President, Goa Association of Resident Doctors )."We thank the Chief Minister for his timely intervention and for working towards the betterment of the people of Goa. We have decided to call off the strike and will continue to provide medical services without any obstruction," added Dr Ayush to ANI, one of the doctors, Pratik Sawant, said, "The doctors of GMC strongly condemn the verbal abuse of our colleague that happened in the Emergency Medicine and Trauma Department's casualty on Saturday."In response to the backlash, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane expressed regret over his behaviour in a post on X."During the broadcast with Prudent Media last night, I openly apologised to Dr Rudresh Kuttikar for the harsh words I spoke during my visit to GMC. In the heat of the moment, my emotions overtook my expression, and I deeply regret how I addressed the situation. I never intended to undermine or disrespect the dignity of any medical professional," Rane wrote.
Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Goa GMCH incident: Maharashtra senior doctors write to PM Modi to end harassment against doctors
The Maharashtra Senior Resident Doctors' Association (MSRDA) on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing the recent episode where the chief medical officer (CMO) of the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) was summarily 'suspended' publicly by the state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane. Rane on June 7 reprimanded Dr Rudresh Kurtikar, CMO, Goa Medical College and Hospital, and ordered his immediate suspension for alleged 'misbehaviour' with a patient. The Association has appealed to PM Modi for urgent redressal and safeguards for government doctors in the wake of the recent Goa GMCH incident. 'The reasons allegedly remain unclear and unverified. While Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant later overturned this suspension, the damage to the dignity of the medical officer, and by extension, to the institution and the profession, was already done,' MSRDA said in the statement. Dr Abhijit Helge, President, MSRDA, told The Indian Express that this episode is not merely a bureaucratic misstep. 'It is emblematic of a disturbing trend where doctors are made scapegoats for administrative or political gain,' Dr Helge said. 'The very public nature of this humiliation, without due inquiry or protocol, sets a dangerous precedent. It sends a chilling message that the immense dedication and integrity with which doctors serve society can be disregarded in an instant,' Dr Sarbik De, MSRDA general secretary, said. In their letter to PM Modi, the association members have said that government doctors are the backbone of India's healthcare system. 'From remote rural Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to the emergency rooms of overcrowded urban hospitals, they serve selflessly—often working 48-hour shifts, making life-and-death decisions, managing epidemics, and sacrificing personal comfort and family time, all for the greater good. They are trained for over a decade before they can stand independently as specialists. Yet, despite their noble service, they are increasingly being subjected to verbal abuse, physical assaults, threats, and now, public humiliation by individuals in power,' the letter read. The GMCH incident is reminiscent of earlier instances — the assault on junior doctors in Kolkata in 2019 that led to nationwide protests; the manhandling of doctors in Telangana; and the public blaming of frontline healthcare workers during Covid-19. In all such instances, it was only after substantial outrage that steps were taken, the association doctors have said, while extending support to the doctors of GMCH Goa. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also written to PM Modi expressing deep concern and disappointment over the recent incidents in Goa and Jharkhand, where medical professionals were subjected to harassment by political leaders at Goa Medical College and Hazaribagh Government Medical College, respectively. 'These distressing actions demonstrate blatant disrespect towards the medical community and contribute to an atmosphere of fear, mistrust, and demoralisation within our already strained healthcare system,' Dr Dilip Bhanushali, National President, IMA, said in the statement on Monday. In its letter dated June 9, IMA has urged PM Modi to amend the Medicare Service Personnel and Medicare Service Institutions Acts across all states to make any form of violence or harassment against healthcare professionals a non-bailable offence, with a minimum punishment of seven years' imprisonment. It has also called for rigorous implementation of the recommendations issued by the National Task Force appointed by the Supreme Court regarding the protection and welfare of resident doctors and healthcare workers. 'We need a public reassurance that will send a clear message that acts of intimidation or violence against doctors will not be tolerated, irrespective of the status or position of the culprits,' IMA has said. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
NDTV
09-06-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Will You Go To Hospital And Apologise To That Doctor? What Goa Minister Told NDTV
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Goa's health minister, Vishwajit Rane, faced backlash after suspending a doctor for patient care issues. He apologized but refused to do so again, insisting he has served the public. Doctors have demand an in-person apology, threatening strike New Delhi: Vishwajit Rane, the health minister of Goa who stirred up controversy after suspending a doctor over patient care and then apologising, said he would not apologise again. The doctors, who were on warpath, have refused to accept his apology and have demanded that he apologise in person to the doctor concerned. "No, I've already apologized... I think I have apologized to the doctor on national TV. And what more can one expect?" Mr Rane told NDTV in an exclusive interview when asked about the matter. "I'm not here to become a Nayak or become anybody. I'm here to serve the people of the state of Goa and ensure the best of medical facilities are available to the people of Goa," he added. Mr Rane's run in with Dr Rudresh Kuttikar of Goa Medical College and Hospital or GMCH took place during his surprise visit to the premier facility on Saturday. He apparently caught the medical personnel refusing to treat a patient and suspended the CMO in public. Soon after a cell phone video of the encounter appeared on social media, sparking a massive protest by doctors. Despite his apology -- first on social media and then on television -- Mr Rane is facing severe backlash from organisations including the Indian Medical Association and Goa Association of Resident Doctors, that have threatened strike. Asked about the matter, Mr Rane said, "I don't think this is appropriate. I think from both sides, we need to take two steps back. We cannot put the patients at risk. I've always been saying that I'm here for the people of the state of Goa". The minister said he had confronted the doctor after a patient he knew called up for help because he was not getting treatment. "The whole trouble was that when a patient of 77 years doesn't get treatment or doesn't get an injection or whatever the reason may be, I think that thing just pained me," he said. "I was just in the initial part of the video, which has gone viral, is the part where I was pulling him up, which was I said the words and methodology was not appropriate... (but) it was very important for us to see that why was he rude to the particular lady and that was I should have actually heard him out," he added. While Chief Minister has cancelled the suspension of the doctor concerned, the minister clarified that his was not a case of change of heart because of any reprimand from Pramod Sawant. "We are colleagues. We are all working together. There's no question of any reprimand and all here. I have, I myself, when the chief minister called me, I said, there's no question of suspension... I never moved any kind of note for suspension. And the doctor has never been suspended," he added. Asked if he would like to apologise again through NDTV, Mr Rane said, "I would like to tell him that I have apologised to you and your family, doctor, and you should accept that apology... I don't think such behaviour on my part would be there again... And it's important both of us work together as a team... Our issue is we can both settle down and have a cup of tea together and resolve the issue".
Hindustan Times
09-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Goa doctor rejects health minister's ‘studio apology', says apologise at hospital
PANAJI: A senior doctor, who was pulled up by Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane at a government hospital last week, on Monday rejected a 'heartfelt apology' offered by the minister, insisting that the apology must be made at the hospital where he was humiliated in the first instance. 'I've seen the video. It is a studio apology. We, all the doctors, demand that the apology be given where the incident happened in front of the patients. As my humiliation went viral... I was humiliated, so I want everyone to know about the apology... within 24 hours,' Dr Rudresh Kuttikar, the casualty medical officer (CMO) at Goa Medical College and Hospital's (GMCH) said on Monday on the minister's expression of regret. Dr Kuttikar had drawn Rane's ire on Saturday for allegedly not administering a Vitamin B12 injection to the mother-in-law of a journalist. The doctor asked the woman to head to a primary health centre for the injection, following which the journalist called the minister. Rane humiliated the senior doctor in the emergency department, announced his suspension and told him to go home on Saturday. The suspension was reversed by chief minister Pramod Sawant the following day. Rane also acknowledged that his 'tone and tenor' were not correct and that his choice of words could have been 'more measured' but initially declined to apologised. On Monday morning, Rane followed up on his apology and said he 'deeply regret[s] the manner in which [he] addressed the situation'. 'I openly extended my heartfelt apology to Dr. Rudresh Kuttikar for the harsh words spoken by me during my visit to GMC. In the heat of the moment, my emotions overtook my expression, and I deeply regret the manner in which I addressed the situation. It was never my intention to undermine or disrespect the dignity of any medical professional,' Rane said. Dr Kuttikar justified his decision not to give the injection, saying that the casualty department of the state's premier institute was only following protocol to decline the request. The doctor explained that the patient should have gone to out patient departments or nearby primary health centres to get a Vitamin B12 injection, not the emergency department of the state's premier hospital. 'A Vitamin B12 injection is not an emergency injection, so they had to go to the OPDs or nearby PHCs… The Emergency Department of a tertiary hospital treats the highest level of emergencies for Goa, where only serious, critical patients have to be admitted. Nowadays, even minor cases are coming to the GMC emergency department. It is protocol that only serious cases have to be seen. A routine injection is never an emergency,' Dr Kuttikar said. Dr Kuttikar has received support from the Goa Association of Resident Doctors (GARD) and the Faculty Doctors Association which held a protest on Monday to back the demand for an apology from the minister. They said the protest would be escalated if a public apology wasn't forthcoming/ 'We demand firm assurance from the government that no healthcare professional will ever be subjected to such a degrading and arbitrary ordeal again. [We demand an] end of VIP culture in the clinical setting especially more so in the casualty department with a possible implementation of a policy where treatment in all areas, again emphasising especially in casualty, must be dictated by principles of triage and clinical urgency and not by the social or political status/affiliation of the patient,' GARD said in its memorandum. 'We have sworn an oath to serve patients, and we do so tirelessly. However, we cannot and will not stand by while the dignity of our profession is not trampled upon,' he added.
