Gujarat minister orders transfer of senior doctor after woman resident doctor ‘slapped, abused’ (Ld)
Gandhinagar/Rajkot, Aug 21 (IANS) The Gujarat government on Friday ordered the transfer of senior doctor Dr Ashwin Ramani from Rajkot Civil Hospital to a primary health centre in Panchmahal district after he was accused of slapping and verbally abusing a woman resident doctor during an altercation at the hospital’s emergency ward.
Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said that the government had taken the incident “extremely seriously” and assured the woman doctor of justice and complete security during a telephone conversation with her.
According to the Health Department’s latest statement, Ramani, who was serving at R.Z. Hospital in Rajkot, has been transferred to the Primary Health Centre at Vavkundli in Panchmahal district on the minister’s instructions.
The department has also initiated necessary legal action against the senior doctor in accordance with the rules.
The incident took place on Thursday evening at the emergency ward of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay (PDU) Civil Hospital, where the woman resident doctor was on duty.
According to her complaint, an elderly patient in a critical condition was brought to the emergency ward at around 7:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. A disagreement reportedly developed over the patient’s admission and treatment, following which the confrontation escalated.
Police subsequently booked Ramani following the complaint by the woman doctor, identified in reports as Dr Krisha Singhala, a first-year resident in the medicine department.
Ramani was also detained by police on Friday in connection with the allegations. Resident doctors at the hospital had staged a protest over the incident, and concerns regarding workplace safety before the complaint was lodged and the authorities intervened.
Pansheriya said the government would not compromise on the safety and dignity of women employees and doctors working in government hospitals.
“The state government has taken the incident of misconduct with a woman doctor at Rajkot Civil Hospital extremely seriously,” he said.
The minister said he had spoken to the affected doctor over the telephone after being informed about the incident and assured her that justice and complete security would be ensured.
He further said that the safety of every woman employee and doctor working in the state’s health services is a priority and that the government would “not tolerate misconduct or inappropriate behaviour at the workplace”.
The Health Department has also issued guidelines to government health institutions across Gujarat to ensure a safe, respectful and positive working environment.
“Women doctors played an important role in providing healthcare services and the government is committed to ensuring a workplace where their dignity and respect are protected,” he said.
–IANS
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