Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane speaks to a doctor during a visit to Goa Medical College and Hospital, Saturday 7 June 2025. | Photocredit: PTI
After a meeting late in the evening on Tuesday (11 June 2025), with the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the Goa Association of Resident Doctors (Gard) said that they have unanimously decided to call off the approaching strike in the entire state.
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Gard represents the united voice of resident doctors in the entire state. Dr. Aayush Sharma, President of Gard, said that this decision was taken in the utmost importance of public health and to prevent some disruption of patient care.
“We want to repeat that our dedication to our patients remains our most important priority, in contrast to any insinuations of third parties. We have opted for the path of dialogue and de-escalation to ensure that vital health care services remain uninterrupted for the Goan audience,” Dr. Sharma.
During a meeting with the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Dean Dr. Shivanand M. Bandekar, medical chief inspector Dr. Rajesh T. Patil and members of Gard and doctors from GMCH, asked the Goa CM to withdraw doctors to withdraw their strike and did not ensure a repercussion or action against an act of the doctors.
During the meeting, the CM said that a public apology has already been given by the Minister of Health, Vishwajit Rane, in the regional and national news channels and that should suffice. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Rudesh Kurtikar, who was abused by the minister on 7 June, was on a public apology in the same victim department.
But later the doctors said that it was decided that such a requirement cannot be made because a government official cannot ask a minister to come to his office and apologize. “This is not about the minister who publicly abused himself to Dr. Kurtikar, but it is about the insult of the chairman and the way in which government doctors are treated by the people in power,” said the doctors’ association.
During the meeting, the CM sent the dean and medical superintendent on a strict ban on videography and photography in the hospital’s patient care and asked them to set up posters in the relevant areas.
On the VIP culture, the CM asked the doctors’ association to explain to which the Gard president said: “The doctors threaten the doctors by giving references of political power will not be entertained.”
The cm said: “Even when I call to find out the condition of a certain patient, this does not mean that I endanger the treatment of other serious patients. I recommend treating all patients on a serious basis, depending on triadaging.”
The CM asked the dean to improve the recovery system of the complaint in the hospital and to form a disciplinary committee under the leadership of the health secretary as chairman, dean and medical superintendent as a member and head of the respective department as a fourth member to raise complaints that are received for or against medical professionals.
During the meeting Dr. asked RESHMARANI SALELKAR The establishment of a staff company for all GMCH consultants and staff, who has been destroyed for the past 15 years. The cm set up the dean to consider the same.
“The cm assured us that no repercussions or action will be false against any doctors due to this particular incident. He also reviewed the security of medical professionals at the gmch and assured them to strengthen the security. Depute 50 Armed Policemen with Immediate Effect.
Published – June 11, 2025 8:06 AM IS
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