Gandhinagar, Sep 4 (IANS) Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya has ordered the immediate transfer of Dr Chirag Barot, an Associate Professor in the Psychiatry Department of Government Medical College in Vadodara, to Government Medical College in Bhavnagar, after 18 resident doctors submitted written complaints alleging physical and mental harassment, ragging and inappropriate conduct.
The action followed Pansheriya’s surprise visit to SSG Hospital and Government Medical College in Vadodara on Thursday, during which he interacted directly with medical students and resident doctors.
According to the complaints submitted during the visit, around 18 doctors, including R1, R2, R3 and senior residents, made allegations against Dr Barot.
The complaints included allegations of physical and mental harassment and ragging.
The residents also alleged that inappropriate messages had been sent to them, that they were subjected to inappropriate demands even after working hours, and that they were asked for their hostel room numbers.
The written representation further alleged that obscene comments were made during work and that doctors were threatened with being failed in their theses and examinations.
Following the representation, the state Health and Family Welfare Department initiated action and ordered Dr Barot’s transfer from Government Medical College in Vadodara to Government Medical College in Bhavnagar, with immediate effect.
Pansheriya said the safety, dignity and mental well-being of students and doctors would not be compromised.
“There will be no compromise of any kind with the safety, dignity, honour and mental peace of students and doctors. The state government has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards ragging, physical and mental harassment, or misconduct,” he said.
The minister said the evidence and complaints submitted by the resident doctors had been taken seriously and that he had directed immediate strict action.
“Such indiscipline or harassment will not be tolerated in any medical educational institution in Gujarat. Strict action will also be taken against those responsible in the future,” Pansheriya said.
The complaints come amid renewed attention to the issue of ragging and harassment of medical residents in Gujarat.
Sources on the Vadodara episode said the complaints were made during a closed-door interaction with the Health Minister and that the allegations also included inappropriate messages and threats concerning the residents’ academic careers.
The allegations against Dr Barot remain allegations contained in the residents’ complaints; the transfer announced by the department does not by itself establish the allegations as proven.
–IANS
mys/uk
