Vishwajit now interfering in Medical Council functioning?

Directs Council to renew the registration of a doctor without without a single ME credit point
Dr Dhanesh Volvoikar blows the lid on the mess in the functioning of the Goa Medical Council

 

Goemkarponn desk

PANAJI: After creating a total mess in the Goa Medical College and the Health Department, the Health Minister is now interfering in the functioning of Goa Medical Council, a doctor has alleged.
Dr Dhanesh Volvoikar says the outgoing Council lost its autonomy when the Council President allowed the renewal of a doctor’s registration without a single ME credit point, based on Health Minister’s written note
and with full knowledge of some of its members.
“Council is a quasi-judicial body, and politicians have
no right to interfere in its normal functioning,” Dr Dhanesh charged.
Dr Dhanesh has given the evidence of the minutes of the meeting of the Goa Medical Council, which clearly states that the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has sent a note regarding the renewal of registration & issue of No Objection Certificate of Dr Antao PereiraIrineu Joao Manual.
The minutes read, “The Registrar briefed the Council on the entire issue right from 18-09-2018 till the date of issue of NOC. The fact of non-submission of 30 CME credit points by Dr. Antao Pereira Trineu Joao Manuel and as required for renewal as per notification published on Official Gazette Series I No. 52 dated 27-03-2008 and the NOTE of Hon’ble Health Minister was put up before the Council, Dr. Dhanesh T. Volvoikar, Vice President, Goa Medical Council objected to the NOTE received from Shri Vishwajit P. Rane, Hon’ble Minister for Health, Craftsmen Training, Women & Child Development, Govt. of Goa, and contended that there cannot be any political interference in Council
affairs as the Council is an autonomous body”.
Dr Dhanesh further said the Council President also conspired with his friends within the Council to advertise & select an unqualified person as the new Registrar, keeping the Vice President in the dark.
“Everything was against the provision of the Council Act and, despite there being a complaint to the higher authorities, got illegal approval from Govt. All this is possible only when the President and some members of the Council are from Govt. service and possibly have vested interest, especially when associated with some of the other Govt. committees,” Dr Dhanesh said.
He charged that the New Registrar, who is a banker and without proper qualifications, could be related to some of the other members of the Council or must be very well-known to them.
“When this illegal act came to light, most of the members endorsed such a horrible act despite firm opposition from one member. Council members from Government Service will always be subdued by these politicians
bosses unless extraordinary courage is shown by an exceptional one,” he said.
Instead of taking action as per service rule against President and another faculty member, especially when detailed information was given to Public Health Department, they had given approval to an unqualified Registrar.
“Way the things were going, it looks like Council was an extension of Ministry’s office. Even without a mandatory MBBS certificate from University, permanent registrations were given. Council members from the Non-clinical Dept of Goa Medical College do not know all pros & cons of clinical practice (Govt & Pvt) and are
highly prone to biased decisions,” he said, adding when Council election is round the corner Government should
not give permission to faculty members from GMC to contest as their primary job is education.
They also have proper representation in Council, as one post is reserved for a faculty member. Dean of Goa Medical College & Director of Health Services is also ex officio member of the Council.
There are also 3 Govt nominees on Council. The election will be held in the coming days for 5 members of 11 members.
Issues like quackery, the bond of PG students, unethical advertising, generic medicines, amendment of accreditation guidelines with respect to time, and various other ethical issues should have been
addressed during the last 5 yr tenure, especially when one of the members had officially raised it.
The website of the Council should give all information but is also not updated for years. Council also should have gone fully digital without inconveniencing its registered members and the public.
Each & every issue raised above has evidence Government should look into the above matters very seriously and make the necessary corrections, Dr Volvoikar said.