Punjab: Dr Avnish Kumar gets additional charge of Vice Chancellor of BFUHS

Faridkot: Days after the Punjab Chief Minister accepted the resignation of Dr Raj Bahadur who was the vice-chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, the state government gave the charge to Dr Avnish Kumar, director of research & medical education (DMER), Punjab on Sunday who has assumed temporary charge of vice-chancellor at the university.  

The doctor has been given the additional charge of VC's post till a regular incumbent is posted. Before his posting as DMER, Dr Avinash worked as a physiology teacher at Government Rajindra Medical College and Hospital in Patiala, and as principal of the medical college. Dr Avinash has been the DMER for four years now.  

Also Read:Punjab CM accepts resignation of BFUHS Vice Chancellor, Director of Medical Education to take charge

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that the previous vice-chancellor, Dr Raj Bahadur had resigned after he was allegedly forced to lie on a dirty mattress at a hospital by the state's health minister during an inspection. The team had also reported that a video clip of the incident that circulated on social media, showed Jouramajra placing a hand on the veteran surgeon's shoulder as he pointed toward the "damaged and dirty condition" of the mattress inside the hospital's skin department.

The minister had allegedly asked VC, Dr Raj Bahadur to lie on a dirty mattress and also misspoken with him. Dr Raj Bahadur had tendered his resignation after he felt ''humiliated'' at the hands of Health Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra. The incident also triggered a lot of outrage from various doctors' associations and bodies. The CM had also asked Dr Bahadur to reconsider his decision to resign from the post and join hands with Mann to create a better healthcare sector for the citizens of the state. 

The Tribune reports that the sources of BFUHS revealed that the state government decided to appoint Dr Avnish as a temporary arrangement since the counselling for admission in MBBS, BDS, MD, and MS courses in all medical and dental colleges in the state is set to start soon. 

On August 12, the governor Banwarilal Purohit accepted Dr Raj Bahadur's resignation from the post based on the recommendation of CM Bhagwant Mann. 

Also Read:BFUHS Vice Chancellor faces humiliation during Punjab Health Minister visit, IMA sees red demands unconditional apology