CM gave instructions to constitute a new investigation committee in Dr. Raghav case.
Jagran Team, Shimla. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has directed to form a new committee for re-investigation in the case of doctor-patient assault at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC), Shimla. The Chief Minister made it clear that misbehavior with patients will not be tolerated. To maintain ethics in the medical field, safety of doctors and other staff will be ensured. Human behavior and man-management course will be made mandatory for doctors.
While presiding over a high-level meeting of the Health Department on Monday, the Chief Minister said that the state government is committed to the safety of doctors and health workers. This does not mean that the respect and rights of patients should be ignored.
He said that the behavior of doctors towards patients can also be made a part of their Annual Confidential Report (ACR) in future. Health Minister Dr. Dhaniram Shandil, Health Secretary Sandeep Kadam, Medical Education Director Rakesh Sharma, Health Services Director Gopal Beri, Special Secretaries Ashwani Sharma and Jitendra Sanjata were present in the meeting. Earlier, while talking to journalists at Ridge Ground, the Chief Minister said that the doctors agreed to their request and ended the strike.
It is a pleasure that the government will also take a sympathetic decision keeping their feelings in mind. The doctor has also repented over this incident. The government has not come to ruin anyone's career. There is a time for punishment, now it will be reconsidered. There are two aspects to the dismissal of Dr. Raghav. On the basis of IGMC doctors' committee, he was dismissed from SRship, while on the basis of inappropriate behavior with the patient, the Director of Health Education dismissed him from the job. At the doctors' meeting on January 3, the Chief Minister said that no one had stopped him for this. It is their right to hold meetings.
BJP divided into factions, one faction with doctors and the other with patients
The Chief Minister said that BJP is divided into five groups, they have no principles. One group was with the doctor and the other with the patient. He alleged that the Central Government is continuously doing injustice to Himachal. The relief money from the disaster that occurred in the year 2023 is being given in installments after two years. The Prime Minister announced Rs 1500 crore but not a single penny has come yet. State BJP leaders are working towards stopping the money from Himachal by going to the Centre.
Efforts are also being made to stop the money sanctioned in the fourth phase of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Will raise the issue of apple import duty with the Centre. The Chief Minister said that injustice has been done to the gardeners of Himachal by reducing the apple import duty from New Zealand. The BJP government is doing injustice to the gardeners here. He will take up this matter with the Central Government as the gardeners of Himachal will be affected by the Centre's decision.
On December 24, a video of a fight between a doctor and a patient surfaced in IGMC. The hospital administration suspended Dr. Raghav Nirula. Dr. Raghav was dismissed on 25 December. Despite the CM's assurance of re-investigation, a mass holiday was observed on December 26 in protest against the dismissal. Doctors associated with Himachal Pradesh Medical Officers Association (HPMOA) also remained on mass leave. On 27 December, RDA, HPMOA and State Association of Medical and Dental College Teachers (SEMDICOT) went on strike. Routine services remained closed. Due to this, OPD, elective operations and regular services were disrupted in many hospitals of the state including IGMC. Emergency services continued. On December 27, after the assurance of the Chief Minister, the doctors called off the strike. Services remained normal in hospitals on 29th.