Agitations ensue after Bengal health department transfers doctor involved with R.G. Kar protests
The Hindu
West Bengal government transfers Dr. Subarna Goswami amid demands for justice in doctor's rape and murder case.
The Mamata Banerjee government on Thursday issued a transfer notice to Subarna Goswami, a Bengal-based senior physician and public health administrator. He was one of the leading voices in the Statewide protests for justice for the doctor who was raped and murdered at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in August last year.
Dr. Goswami was also a vocal critic of the State-run healthcare system in West Bengal and played a prominent role in the doctor-led movement demanding improvements in the health sector last year.
According to the notice issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday, Dr. Goswami has been transferred to the post of Superintendent at Darjeeling TB Hospital in north Bengal from his earlier post as Deputy Chief Medical Officer Health (CMOH)-II at Purba Bardhaman district, with immediate effect.
While sources in the Health department described the transfer as “routine”, Dr. Goswami claimed it was a “vindictive step by the administration”.
“While doctors close to the ruling political dispensation are staying posted at their convenient places for the last 13-14 years, the ones who are raising their voices against the rampant corruption in the health sector, anti-people health policies and hitting the streets to demand justice in the heinous rape and murder case of R.G. Kar are being targeted for political vendetta,” Dr. Goswami told The Hindu.
“I consider this transfer as a recognition of and reward for our undaunted fight against all these odds. But the attempt to gag my voice by transferring me to a remote place will not succeed. The struggle against institutional corruption and fighting for justice will get stronger,” he added.
His transfer has led to criticism and protests in the State’s medical fraternity, with senior physicians’ organisation Joint Platform of Doctors West Bengal taking out a protest rally to Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the government’s health department in Kolkata.
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