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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Austrian police detain suspect in case of rat poison found in baby food jars on supermarket shelves
Vienna (AP): Police in eastern Austria say a 39-year-old suspect has been arrested after rat poison turned up in some HiPP baby food jars on supermarket shelves in central Europe.
HiPP, which recalled some of its baby food jars in Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic after the case came to light last month, said in a statement Saturday it was “greatly relieved” by the arrest, and would provide further updates as verified details come in.
The Burgenland State Criminal Police Office, under the direction of prosecutors, said a probe was launched after poison turned up in a baby food jar purchased at a supermarket in the city of Eisenstadt on April 18.
It said the suspect was being questioned, and that no further details would be immediately provided. The Burgenland public prosecutor's office has announced an investigation into suspected “intentional endangerment of the public.”
The Austrian Press Agency reported that an expert report on the toxicity of the poison was pending. A total of five tampered baby food jars were seized before they could be consumed, APA reported.
Authorities said previously they believe the tampering occurred in 190-gram (6.7-ounce) jars of baby food made with carrots and potatoes for 5-month-olds that were sold from SPAR supermarkets in Austria.
HiPP responded by recalling all of its baby food jars sold at SPAR supermarkets — which include SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR and Maximarkt stores — in Austria as a precaution. Vendors in Slovakia and the Czech Republic also removed all of the brand's baby jars from sale.
The company said the recall was not due to any product or quality defect on its part, and said the jars left its facility in “perfect condition.”
Police said a customer at the time of the discovery had reported that a jar appeared to have been tampered with, but no one had consumed the baby food.
