Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI:The resident doctors at Goa Medical College (GMC) ended their protest on Monday after Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant visited the hospital and assured them that their concerns would be addressed.
During his visit, Sawant met with the protesting doctors, the GMC Dean, and the Medical Superintendent.
He thanked the doctors for resuming their duties and expressed gratitude for their cooperation, stating that the government had agreed to meet all their demands.
“I thank the doctors for cooperating with the government. We have assured them that such incidents will not be repeated in the future,” Sawant said.
Addressing the controversy over video recordings inside the hospital, the Chief Minister also announced that videography and photography would no longer be allowed within GMC premises to safeguard the dignity and privacy of both patients and healthcare staff.
The protest had erupted after a video, recorded inside the casualty ward, caused an uproar among medical professionals. They claimed it violated hospital protocols and compromised patient confidentiality.
Earlier, Chief Minister Sawant had urged the striking doctors to call off their agitation and expressed his readiness to issue a public apology.
The doctors, represented by the Goa Association of Resident Doctors (GARD), had gone on strike demanding an apology from Health Minister Vishwajit Rane following the suspension of GMC’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Rudresh Kuttikar. They had warned of a complete shutdown of medical services if their demands were not met.
In an emergency meeting held at his residence in Altinho, Sawant met with GMC Dean Dr. Shivanand Bandekar, Medical Superintendent Dr. Kuttikar, and GARD representatives.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sawant assured that the government had accepted all their demands. He also highlighted that steps were being taken to uphold the dignity of healthcare workers.
“Minister Rane has already expressed regret. I have told the doctors that I am ready to visit the casualty ward at GMC and personally apologise to Dr. Kuttikar and the entire medical community. I am also prepared to offer a public apology before the media,” Sawant said.
He urged the doctors to resolve the issue amicably, reaffirming the government’s respect for the medical profession.
