Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has issued a public apology to Dr Rudresh Kuttikar, Chief Medical Officer at Goa Medical College (GMC), as well as to his family and the wider medical community, following strong criticism over his recent remarks against the doctor.
In an interview with Local channel, Rane expressed regret for his outburst and said his statements were never meant to hurt the sentiments of medical professionals.
“Politics is being played around a sensitive issue, and I don’t want this to affect GMC’s working or staff morale,” he said.
The controversy erupted after Rane’s sharp criticism of Dr Kuttikar drew backlash from medical professionals, political leaders, and citizens. On Saturday, the minister had announced plans to suspend the doctor but has now confirmed he did not proceed with the suspension. “I had said I would move the suspension file, but no such step was actually taken,” Rane clarified.
The development came hours after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant publicly assured that there would be no suspension.
Rane also responded to accusations of arrogance, saying he reacted emotionally after witnessing an elderly patient’s condition. “I am not arrogant. I have seen power from a young age. I simply reacted in the moment, and I regret the way I handled it,” he stated.
Taking aim at online criticism, Rane said that non-Goan influencers on social media were fuelling the controversy without understanding the full context. He defended his tenure, claiming significant upgrades in Goa’s health infrastructure had taken place under his leadership.
Despite the apology, Rane maintained his stand on the need for discipline and accountability at GMC.
