CANACONA: Vehemently opposing the Vigilance Department’s order terminating the services of Dr Iona Barreto over allegations that she was involved in private practice during her earlier posting at Hospicio in Margao, Canacona residents have termed the move as “biased and arbitrary”. However, Dr Barreto has denied these allegations.
The news of Dr Iona’s termination came as a shock to the taluka residents.
Calling the move to terminate Dr Barreto as “biased and arbitrary”, Diogo da Silva, a prominent member of Canacona Health Welfare Committee said, “Dr Iona is one of the best doctors in Canacona, everyone visits her as she is kind and helpful to the poor and downtrodden from the taluka. How can the authorities just terminate her services on the basis of alleged private practice that too by a foreigner?”
“Dr Iona goes out of the way to help each patient, while doing that she must have rubbed some shoulders, who must have taken revenge due to her popularity in the hospital,” said Methri, her patient and a senior citizen.
Another patient Agust said, “When the health department says that no doctors are willing to take posting in Canacona. How come a doctor of Iona’s calibre be terminated from her services?
