A wave of protests has erupted at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) after senior doctor and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Rudresh Kuttikar demanded a public apology from Goa’s Health Minister Vishwajit Rane for allegedly humiliating him during an inspection. Backed by the Goa Association of Resident Doctors (GARD), doctors across departments have threatened to go on strike if the minister does not apologize at the location where the incident took place.
The controversy stems from a June 7 incident in GMC’s emergency department, where Dr. Kuttikar claims he was publicly berated by Minister Rane in front of staff and patients. The altercation reportedly began when a relative of a patient requested a Vitamin B12 injection in the emergency unit, but was advised to visit the Outpatient Department (OPD) instead, as it was not deemed an emergency.
“We demand that the minister come to the casualty department and issue a public apology. It must be in the same place where the humiliation happened,” said Dr. Kuttikar. He criticized the minister’s prior apology video as a “studio apology” and insisted that a genuine public acknowledgment is required. “The video of my humiliation went viral. The apology must go viral in the same way,” he added.
The protest has received overwhelming support from medical interns, resident doctors, and Heads of Departments at GMC, who also called for an end to VIP interference in hospital functioning. In response, GMC Dean Dr. SM Bandekar acknowledged the gravity of the matter, confirming that the hospital administration had conveyed the doctors’ demands to the health ministry.
Dr. Bandekar added, “There has been no suspension or inquiry against the doctor. We have informed the ministry about the request for a public apology. We also agree to the doctors’ demand for a ban on videography in patient care areas.” He further stated that efforts are underway to identify the individual who recorded the video of the altercation.
The doctors are also demanding that an FIR be registered against the person who filmed the video during the minister’s visit. The protests have amplified calls for respecting the dignity of medical professionals and ensuring their protection against public or political mistreatment.
As tensions rise, all eyes remain on the health minister and his next move — with the threat of a statewide medical strike looming large if the issue remains unresolved.
Sources By Agencies
