Telangana: Govt Doctor abused, transferred over not receiving MLA

Kushaiguda: A government doctor based at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Kushaiguda was recently transferred over not receiving a local MLA of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) at the PHC's gate. 

The incident allegedly took place on August 19 when the MLA identified as Bethu Subash Reddy came to the PHC and the doctor was not able to receive him as he was treating some patients. Following that, the MLA and his associates created problems at the PHC over the issue and further abused the doctor for not receiving the MLA. 

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The doctor has, however, alleged that he was treating patients when the MLA came and he called the transfer an act of revenge. During that time, the MLA allegedly called senior officials in front of the medical officers and demanded that the doctor should be disbarred or transferred. 

A week after the incident, the doctor was transferred from Kushaiguda to Muduchintalapalli. The doctor told India Today, "After I attended to my patients, I went to the MLA to greet him. He started screaming at me." He added, "The MLA kept abusing me and scolding me for disrespecting him. Even though I was trying to explain that I was with patients that needed attention, he did not understand."

The doctor said, "The MLA kept saying that he would ruin my career and get me transferred," adding, "I did not want to make a big deal of it. But when I was transferred, it really hurt my feelings." He said that he reached out to the Healthcare Reforms Doctor's Association (HRDA) after realizing that the transfer was an act of revenge. 

The doctor wrote a letter to the district and medical health officer of Medchal-Malkajgiri district explaining the situation that occurred at the PHC and asked them to look into it. In the letter, he observed that he had made all arrangements to welcome the MLA but during the time of his arrival, the doctor said that he was attending to a few patients who had brought their ECGs with them. The doctor observed that the MLA spoke to him in an undignified manner following which he requested them to speak respectfully. 

In the letter, the doctor noted, "It is false to say that, I was rude, gross affront and indignity behavior towards the nation and public representatives, in fact, their behavior violates the hospital rules 2005, which is an act of crime and cognizable non-bailable offense." He observed that there are cameras in the PHC and some people have even recorded the incidents which could act as evidence. He observed that he had also apologized later to the MLA attempting to settle down the issue. 

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