Team Herald
PANJIM: Condemning the interference of the government into the functioning of the Goa Police and the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Bambolim, the Congress on Monday promised total autonomy to both the institutions if voted back to power in the ensuing Assembly elections.
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Speaking to reporters after his appointment as co-chairman of party’s manifesto committee, Elvis Gomes accused the government of causing humiliation to the doctor fraternity in the State and said that autonomy to institutions such as GMC and the Goa Police was the need of the hour. He also accused the government of interfering in the functioning of the Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC), which is an autonomous body under the Constitution of India.
Referring to a controversy about the appointment of Dean of GMC as well as inaction of the police in acting in a case of alleged assault on a doctor, Gomes, a former bureaucrat revealed that merely because a particular minister did not like the senior-most incumbent to the post of Dean, attempt was made to discredit his credentials in public. This approach, he said was bound to affect the morale of the doctors at a time when the medicare staff was already stressed out and the possibility of a third wave of Coronavirus was looming large upon the State.
“After putting the Staff Selection Commission to sleep, the government is now interfering in the functioning of the GPSC. Public disclosure that Personnel Department has not briefed the GPSC properly should have resulted in action against the department, instead of attempting to humiliate doctors who are under consideration for elevation to the post of Dean.
“I will try to impress that the future Congress government should grant autonomy to departments dealing with health,” said the co-chairman of Congress Manifesto Committee.
Referring to an alleged case of assault against a gynaecologist doctor at Porvorim, Gomes questioned the need for doctors to approach the Porvorim Police Station to demand action and sought to know who was preventing the police from taking action in the matter.
“Besides the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections, there is a special Act called the Protection of Medicare Service Act 2013 which was enacted to prevent violence against medicare personnel and also prevent loss of property. The rule of law has gone for a toss. Police institution also needs insulation from unjust interference” said Gomes demanding action in the matter.
GPCC spokesman Tulio de Souza and secretary Narayan Redkar were also present for press briefing.
