VIMSAR Doctor Suspended for doing private practice

Sambalpur: An Assistant Professor of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla was suspended for allegedly doing private practice during duty hours.

Director of VIMSAR, Aswini Pujahari, said Goutam Satpathy, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic department, was placed under suspension with immediate effect for treating patients at house during duty hours.

Satpathy was caught treating patients at his house on Saturday during duty hours, Pujahari said adding, he had also video recorded the entire proceedings.

The doctor has been placed under suspension as per rules with immediate effect pending departmental inquiry, the VIMSAR Director said adding, the doctor has directed him not to leave the headquarter without obtaining prior permission.

After being suspended, Satpathy said "I was not treating patients at my home. I had gone to my home for lunch. However, a patient came with a child and asked me about a medicine, which had reaction on the child. I simply changed the medication and did not even take consultation charge."

Satpathy said he has repeated the same position in his explanation submitted to the director.

"I submitted my explanation at 12 noon and came to know about my suspension at 2 PM," he said.

Earlier on July 9, Pujahari had caught a doctor of the Radio-Diagnosis department working in a private diagnostics centre during duty hours.