MP Medical Fraternity Threatens Shut Down Of Service Over Govt Proposal For Posting Bureaucrats At GMCs

Importantly, medical services in all government-run hospitals in Madhya Pradesh will likely be suspended. The medical fraternity has warned that it will hold protests from Tuesday morning onwards.

Medical teachers, students, and representatives of several other associations assembled at the Gandhi Medical College on Monday and unanimously decided to oppose adding IANS.

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This is not the first time the medical fraternity and the administration have come face to face on this particular issue, as this is the third attempt by the state government to place the controversial proposal before the Cabinet.

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The Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government first placed this proposal before the Cabinet in November 2021. However, a unanimous objection by the medical fraternity prompted the Government to hold it back.

The proposal was again placed before the Cabinet in July this year but could not be passed.

A major controversy broke out in August after a senior IAS officer was appointed as medical commissioner over the dean at Sagar Medical College, which was opposed by the medical fraternity. The teachers and medical students staged a huge protest.

The relentless protest by the teachers and medical students forced the state government to cancel the appointment.

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Now that the Government is set to implement the rule again, the medical fraternity in Maharashtra claims that the Government has decided to bring the proposal through the backdoor and get it approved without consulting the doctors and medical professionals. The medical fraternity has alleged that the bureaucrats' lobby is forcing the Government to introduce this system.

While commenting on this, Rakesh Malvia, president of the medical teachers' association of Gandhi Medical College, told IANS, "The government justifies the move by claiming that the step is being taken to reduce the burden of the doctors as the administrative officer will look after all the administrative issues so that the doctors could focus entirely on their patients."

"How can a non-medical person tell which equipment or medicine needs to be procured for the patients? Only a doctor can make these decisions. We are unable to understand why our Government is trying to kill our medical system," he further added.

Describing their resolution, he mentioned, "But we will not let it happen, and if needed, we will go on strike, and all medical services, including emergency services, would be suspended from Tuesday onwards."

Claiming that the bureaucrats' lobby is forcing the Government to implement the new system, a doctor based in Bhopal added, "There is already an administrative officer associated with the system, so why should another administrative officer be enrolled? It is an attack on the medical system... The bureaucrats want to turn medical colleges into other government institutions. It will be a suicidal attempt if the new system is introduced."

Meanwhile, the opposition has also extended its support to the medical fraternity, saying the Government should discuss this matter before taking any decision.

"The medical fraternity is threatening to go on strike. The condition of health facilities in the state is already bad. In such a situation, the state government should consider their demands in the interest of the general public," said former Chief Minister and Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath.

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