Doctor rejects Goa Health Minister’s ‘studio’ apology, demands public one at hospital
Panaji: Dr Rajesh Kuttikar, the casualty medical officer at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), has refused to accept Health Minister Vishwajit Rane’s apology for publicly humiliating him during a surprise hospital visit last week. The incident, caught on camera and aired widely, triggered outrage in the medical community.
On June 9, Rane issued an apology via social media, stating on X (formerly Twitter): “During the broadcast with Prudent Media last night, I openly extended my heartfelt apology to Dr. Rudresh Kuttikar for the harsh words spoken by me during my visit to GMC.” He added that his emotions got the better of him and that he never intended to disrespect any medical professional.
However, Dr Kuttikar rejected the statement, calling it a “studio apology.” Speaking to reporters, he demanded a public apology at the same hospital site where the humiliation occurred. “We require a public apology in the casualty itself within 24 hours,” he said, warning that failure to do so would lead to a strike.
The Goa Association of Resident Doctors (GARD), which had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the minister, is likely to go ahead with a mass shutdown of routine services if their demand is not met. Emergency care will reportedly continue.
The controversy began on June 7 when Rane, during an unannounced inspection at GMCH, reprimanded Dr Kuttikar in front of cameras. The minister was reportedly angered after a patient seeking a Vitamin B-12 injection was turned away from the casualty ward, which is reserved for emergency care. During the confrontation, Rane ordered the doctor to remove his mask, take his hands out of his pockets, and “learn to behave.”
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant later clarified that Dr Kuttikar would not be suspended, but the issue has continued to escalate.
GARD also criticised the “VIP culture” interfering with emergency healthcare and reiterated that medical decisions must be based on triage and clinical urgency, not social or political status.
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Man arrested with Rs 2.54-crore heroin in Mumbai
Mumbai (PTI): Police have arrested a man and seized over 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.54 crore in the illicit market from him in Mumbai, officials said on Friday.
The police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) made the drug seizure in Santacruz in the western suburbs. The operation was conducted by the Kandivali unit of the ANC on Thursday as part of a special crackdown against drug trafficking in the area, they said.
Acting on specific inputs, an ANC team conducted a raid in Santacruz (East) and intercepted a man. During a search, the team recovered 508 grams of high-grade heroin from his possession, an official said.
The seized contraband, a highly addictive, opioid drug derived from morphine, is estimated to be worth Rs 2.54 crore in the international market, he informed.
Following the seizure, a case was registered against the man under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and he was formally placed under arrest in the early hours of Friday.
The police are currently investigating the source of the drug and trying to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, he said.
