Nepotism at JJ Hospital? Notice issued to HOD Ophthalmology asking why son of former Dean conducting Surgeries

Mumbai: Amidst the ongoing controversy regarding alleged academic irregularities at the Ophthalmology Department of Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Hospital, the administration has now issued a notice to the Head of the Department (HoD).

Issuing notice to the HoD, the Dean of the Institute Dr. Pallavi Saple has sought an explanation on a doctor conducting cataract surgeries and seeing patients in the outpatient department despite not holding any post at the Institute. The Ophthalmology Department Head has been asked to produce if there is any government order that allowed the concerned doctor to conduct surgeries and see patients in the department, reports HT.

The concerned doctor is the son of the ex-dean of the hospital and ex-DMER. Despite not holding any post at the hospital, allegedly the doctor used to conduct cataract surgeries at the hospital, sources informed Medical Dialogues.

In fact, he had allegedly tried to intimidate the resident doctors into withdrawing their initial complaints against his father associated with the same department. Raising the matter, the resident doctors had also written to the Dean of the Institute.

Now, HoD Ophthalmology has been asked to explain if there was any government order allowing the concerned son of the former dean to see patients in the hospital and conduct surgeries. The notice issued to the HoD mentioned that in the absence of any such official paper, she as the HoD of the Department allowed an outsider to come to the hospital and conduct operations and see patients, which is a serious offence and criminal matter, adds Hindustan Times.

Referring to the matter, the Ophthalmology Department Head has also been asked why an FIR should not be registered against her name and also against the said doctor for working without a permit.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that around 750 resident doctors were protesting against the senior teachers of the Ophthalmology Department. The resident doctors have alleged academic irregularities and difficulties at the Department of Ophthalmology and demanded immediate transfer of the HoD of the Department and also the former Dean associated with it.

Also Read: JJ Hospital Ophthalmology dept controversy: Doctors give mass resignation, Dean moves to verify documents

Their complaints range from lack of surgical opportunities, lack of academics, lack of research activity and unparliamentary behaviour that the residents allegedly face on a regular basis in the department.

Earlier, the resident doctors of the ophthalmology department wrote to Dean Dr. Pallavi Saple and alleged that NMC rules of setting up surgical units were not followed in the department. As a result of this, allegedly, none of the junior residents assisted in any cataract surgeries. The resident doctors further alleged that most surgeries were done by either the HoD or the former Dean.

In another letter directed to the Dean, the residents had alleged that the son of the former Dean was allegedly "trying to manipulate and intimidate the junior residents to withdraw their complaints."

After receiving the complaint from the residents, the Dean of the institute set up a committee under the Medical Superintendent Dr. Sanjay Surase to probe the allegations. 

As per the latest media report by Hindustan Times, during the investigation, the committee checked the CCTV footage and medical records and found the son of the former Dean, who does not hold any post at the hospital, had been coming to the hospital on regular basis and operating on patients and seeing them. 

The daily adds that while the concerned doctor used to work as a lecturer in the hospital's department previously, he resigned back in March 2022. Now the HoD of Ophthalmology Department has been issued a notice to explain the matter.

Commenting on the matter, the President of Central MARD, Dr. Abhijit Rajesh Helge told Medical Dialogues, "This is definitely not right and especially in the case of a Government Hospital. How can a doctor, who does not hold any post at the hospital, see patients and conduct surgeries?"

Meanwhile, the HoD of the Department told HT that she cannot comment on being a government employee. The Daily also adds that the Hospital has also found out that the HoD and seven honorary doctors, who had resigned on May 31 citing "personal reasons", had violated the National Medical Commission (NMC) norms by not registering themselves in the biometric system.

Referring to the issue, a senior official from JJ Hospital told Hindustan Times, “NMC has made Aadhaar-linked biometric attendance and CCTV cameras compulsory in medical colleges in the last year. Around 40 medical colleges across the country lost recognition over the last two months for not following the NMC set standards. Our officials have been following up with Dr Parekh and the seven doctors for the last few months but they have not completed the procedure. They are the only ones in the hospital who have not done biometrics.”