JJ Hospital Ophthalmology dept controversy: After Govt Accepts Resignation, VRS of Senior Doctors, Residents call off strike
Mumbai: In response to the protests by residents doctors of Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Hospital alleging academic irregularities at the Ophthalmology Department of the Institute, the State Government has accepted the resignation of Dr T P Lahane as the coordinator of Preventable Blindness Free Maharashtra Mission.
Further, the application for voluntary retirement of Dr Ragini Parekh from the post of Professor at the hospital has also been accepted by the State. Apart from them, the authorities have also accepted the resignation letters of the seven honorarium doctors.
Confirming this development, an official told Indian Express, “We have approved the VRS application of Dr Ragini Parekh and she has been relieved from government service from June 3. However, Dr. Parekh needs to follow some conditions which include that she should not apply for partial instalment of pension before expiry of three months’ notice period.”
Replacing the previous head of the Ophthalmology Department, as per the new order, Dr. Ravi Chauhan, an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Indira Gandhi Govt Medical College Nagpur has been appointed for the post, reports Indian Express.
Meanwhile, as per the latest media report by the Free Press Journal, the two senior doctors of the Ophthalmology Department and the honorary doctors who also submitted their resignations have clarified that they will not resume their work at the hospital. “We will not resume work at Sir Jamshetji Jeejeebhoy Hospital even if all the issues are resolved,” they said. They have also demanded an inquiry and strict action against the dean of the hospital.
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.
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. 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.
Referring to this, Dean Dr. Saple told Free Press Journal, “The report submitted to the dean reveals that the committee has sought an explanation from Dr Ragini Parekh, HoD, on the appointment of Dr Sumeet Lahane and also asked her to clarify three points, based on documents submitted by resident doctors as proof.”
The daily adds that the investigative committee in its report mentioned that the son of the former dean was performing cataract surgeries and seeing patients and sought a photocopy of any government letter or order that asked the concerned doctor to perform surgeries and examine patients. Another point that the committee raised was that a criminal case could be filed against the concerned doctor and the HoD Ophthalmology as it was a legal offence for outsiders to perform patient examinations, surgeries and other patient care work without any order.
“We have raised these points with Dr Parekh and sought a detailed explanation and asked why no case should be registered against Dr Sumeet Lahane,” Dr Saple told FPJ.
Meanwhile, claiming that the report of the investigative committee is biased, Dr T P Lahane added, “We have been serving J J Hospital and patients for the last 36 years and have done more than lakhs of surgeries and operations. But we did not expect to be humiliated by resident doctors and the hospital dean. All of us have resigned and will not be part of J J Hospital any further. The report submitted by the investigative committee is biased, as they have not asked for our version and we have the right to tell our side of the issue.”
After the State accepted the resignation of the concerned senior doctors, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) of JJ Hospital issued a Press Release on Sunday and announced its decision of calling off the ongoing strike. Central MARD has also issued a release and announced the withdrawal of the pan-Maharashtra strike.
Referring to the matter, the Press Release by Central MARD mentioned, "The issues and problems at ophthalmology department of J J Hospital are not new. For the last 25 years, the resident doctors of this department have been suffering due to inadequate surgical skills. The resident doctors, who had come to learn surgery, were learning everything but surgical skills. Dr. T.P. Lahane Sir's contribution to the field of ophthalmology is undoubtedly significant, but the issue of educational loss of resident doctors was very serious. For the last twenty-five years, resident doctors were troubled by this dictatorship."
Thanking the State for listening to their demands, the Release further mentioned, "Today, we would like to thank the Government of Maharashtra and the Minister of Medical Education Shri Girish Mahajan Sir as they listened to our concerns and grievances. The Hon'ble Minister of Medical Education Shri Girish Mahajan Saheb has directed the Secretariat to take immediate action on the issue of our remaining two issues — Pending Arrears and Recruitment of Assistant and Associate Professors."
Announcing its decision to call off the pan-Maharashtra strike, the release added, "We dedicate this victory to the brave and fearless resident doctors of the Ophthalmology Department of JJ Hospital and to all the resident doctors of Maharashtra who tirelessly provide patient care every day."
