The Crossbill News Desk
Doctors at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Bambolim resumed regular duties on Wednesday, June 11, following a resolution of their standoff with the state government.
The protest began after Goa’s Health Minister, Vishwajit Rane, publicly berated Casualty Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Rudresh Kuttikar during an unannounced visit to the hospital on Saturday and called for his suspension.
In response, doctors staged a walkout and demanded an apology and structural changes to protect medical staff from political interference.
To defuse the escalating situation, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced on Sunday that Kuttikar would not face suspension.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the government and protesting doctors on Tuesday, incorporating several of their key demands. These included affirming the CMO's autonomy in triaging patients, forming a disciplinary committee at GMCH, and banning photography and videography in patient care areas. Sawant directed hospital officials to enforce this prohibition after a video of Rane scolding Kuttikar went viral.
Although Rane issued an apology on social media and television, Kuttikar rejected it, insisting that the minister apologise directly in the casualty department where the incident took place.
Rane did not return to the hospital, but Sawant visited GMCH to reassure staff and reiterate the government's commitment to their concerns.
The doctors also called for an end to VIP interference in medical decisions, citing the catalyst for the incident—a refusal to administer a vitamin B-12 shot in the emergency department, which had triggered the complaint against Kuttikar. Sawant reportedly agreed that triage decisions should be left entirely to CMOs without political intrusion.
The agreement also ensured that no disciplinary action would be taken against doctors who participated in the protest.
Members of the Goa Association of Resident Doctors and hospital administration endorsed the terms of the MoU, marking a temporary end to the unrest.
The protest began after Goa’s Health Minister, Vishwajit Rane, publicly berated Casualty Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Rudresh Kuttikar during an unannounced visit to the hospital on Saturday and called for his suspension.
In response, doctors staged a walkout and demanded an apology and structural changes to protect medical staff from political interference.
To defuse the escalating situation, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced on Sunday that Kuttikar would not face suspension.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the government and protesting doctors on Tuesday, incorporating several of their key demands. These included affirming the CMO's autonomy in triaging patients, forming a disciplinary committee at GMCH, and banning photography and videography in patient care areas. Sawant directed hospital officials to enforce this prohibition after a video of Rane scolding Kuttikar went viral.
Although Rane issued an apology on social media and television, Kuttikar rejected it, insisting that the minister apologise directly in the casualty department where the incident took place.
Rane did not return to the hospital, but Sawant visited GMCH to reassure staff and reiterate the government's commitment to their concerns.
The doctors also called for an end to VIP interference in medical decisions, citing the catalyst for the incident—a refusal to administer a vitamin B-12 shot in the emergency department, which had triggered the complaint against Kuttikar. Sawant reportedly agreed that triage decisions should be left entirely to CMOs without political intrusion.
The agreement also ensured that no disciplinary action would be taken against doctors who participated in the protest.
Members of the Goa Association of Resident Doctors and hospital administration endorsed the terms of the MoU, marking a temporary end to the unrest.
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