Do you think Dr venugopal exit is total political stunt .. for showing pro reservation dominant government?

Answer 1

The exchange of stinging and condemnatory words through the media between the Union Health Minister, Mr A Ramadoss and the director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Dr P Venugopal was bound to end up with the lesser mortal’s exit or the beginning of it; and we have Dr Venugopal going on leave and threatening to resign. The spat is not an isolated case; it is an indicator of the deep crisis that has gripped the nation’s premier medical institution, AIIMS. At a time when the private sector was entering health care services in a big way, the AIIMS has virtually been fighting to cope with competition. When we needed action and quick results, its functioning was getting bureaucratised with the administration going into slumber and becoming ineffective. Although Mr Ramadoss says his objective was only to revamp the functioning of the AIIMS, it is quite likely that Dr Venugopal was becoming inconvenient for reasons other than progress.

One of the major provocations for Dr Venugopal was the appointment of a doctor as a dean superceding another doctor and bringing in of Dr T D Dogra as the head of the research committee of the Institute. The trouble in fact began after the officer on special duty to the minister sought the replacement of the AIIMS public relations officer, sub-dean and senior financial advisor, as well as action against its medical superintendent without taking Dr Venugopal into confidence.

True, behind the image and aura of a premier institution, there is rot in the AIIMS. The recent anti-reservation strike by the doctors only brought it out to everyone’s notice. The health ministry had blamed the AIIMS administration for supporting the striking doctors. Though the statutory provisions prohibit holding any demonstration or strike on the campus of the AIIMS, the director was accused of turning a blind eye to what the students did on the campus. Not only that, Dr Venugopal was against the government decision to penalise doctors for participating in the 17-day-strike and had even threatened to quit after Mr Ramadoss directed the authorities to cut the salaries of AIIMS medicos who did not work during the recent anti-quota stir. Brushing his objections aside, Mr Ramadoss had said if the court directs, the salaries would be paid.

No doubt Dr Venugopal has not lived up to the role and responsibilities of his post, but Mr Ramadoss also owes an explanation to the public: why did he not initiate similar action against the doctors of other government hospitals where doctors abstained from their duties and resorted to anti-reservation strike? Why is he resorting to such double standards? If some reports based on the views of anonymous sources are to be relied upon, the tussle between Dr Venugopal and Mr Ramadoss, who is also the president of the AIIMS, is almost two-year-old. Dr Venugopal was brought in as director by the NDA government. Nevertheless, the thing both should remember is that a dirty spat between them would only bring the premier institution into disrepute, and might shake the faith of the people in it. The episode also has brought into focus the need to give key institutions autonomy. The government of India should guarantee autonomy to the institutions, at least in the matter of the running of their affairs, and not allow them to be treated as the punching bag of a minister or his OSD.

Answer 2

Dr Venugopal Aiims