Dispute between MS, dean puts doctors in Salem hospital in bind

Salem: With simmering differences between the dean and medical superintendent, the doctors in the Government Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital (GMKMCH) are caught in a bind.

As per a recent media report in The New Indian Express, the problems became severe when the superintendent passed a message on WhatsApp blaming the dean of high handedness.

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P V Dhanapal has been the Medical Superintendent (MS) of GMKMCH since the last four years. In the message he circulated on Thursday, he claimed that the dean, Valli Sathyamoorthy appointed Dr Pon A Rajarajan as Deputy Superintendent (DS) without holding any consultations with him while ignoring the seniors.

He further alleged that the dean transferred officials including the resident medical officers in a random manner, reports The New Indian Express.

However, a senior GMKMCH doctor stated that the dean and superintendent have been fighting since the day the dean was appointed. Commenting on the issue, he told the daily, "Dhanapal is politically connected and opposes all decisions taken by the dean. The cold war affects the administration as the dean cannot implement any decision."

Another doctor said that the dean is vested with the power to take administrative decisions. He also added that a nurse had earlier also filed a complaint against the dean, however the issue got sidelined because of his political connections.

Professor and HoD for the Department of cardio-thoracic Surgery Pon Rajarajan stated, "I was promoted as a professor in 2018. At that time Dhanapal was an associate professor. I am more qualified for the post of DS."

The Dean Valli Sathyamoorthy said that Dr Rajarajan was appointed as DS in addition to his regular duties, stating, "I asked the senior doctors if they are willing to take up the responsibility, but no one came forward. Neither did anyone object to his appointment as DS."

Meanwhile, the superintendent Dhanapal argued that the dean do not have any administrative experience, "Sitting in the room, she issues ten orders a day. The DS post is not needed. It is my duty to tell what is happening in GMKMCH. So I posted in the Whatsapp group. I have experience of 32 years. Rajarajan is a junior and more than 15 doctors are eligible for the post. Without consulting any seniors. she appointed Rajarajan as DS. More than 116 patients are waiting for bypass surgery. Appointing a cardiothoracic surgeon in an administrative post will affect them."

When he was asked about the complaint filed against him by the nurse, Dhanapal attributed it to a personal grudge, adding, "She did not work properly and did not stay in a hotel provided by the government during Covid time. I questioned her, and she lodged a false complaint. I am not the chief minister to stop any inquiry."

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