'Won't apologise for standing up for patient denied care': Goa minister on firing health official

A video of the said incident shows Vishwajit Rane arguing with CMO Dr Rudresh Kuttikar at GMCH. (Screengrab/X)

Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Saturday defended his decision to order the suspension of a doctor from a state-run hospital, citing the latter's "arrogant behaviour" towards a patient.

He said he would not apologise for standing up for a patient who was denied care, according to PTI.

Rane said he took the action after receiving a complaint from a senior journalist who pointed out that his mother-in-law was mistreated by the doctor in the casualty ward of the Goa Medical College and Hospital.

Chief Medical Officer of GMCH, Dr Rudresh Kurtikar, was fired publicly, and he was later suspended on Rane’s orders after he “lost his cool" during his surprise visit to the hospital. “You are here to serve humanity, not your ego, behave properly with patients," Rane told the doctor.

"You are here to serve humanity, not your ego, behave properly with patients." ~ Vishwajit Rane (@visrane), Goa Health Minister.During a surprise visit to Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), he ordered suspension of CMO for allegedly refusing to give an injection to a pic.twitter.com/NmNrx4Tsaf

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Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) June 7, 2025

The GMCH, located at Bambolim near here, is a state-run hospital with more than 1,000 beds. It provides medical services to patients from Goa as well as from nearby areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Later, talking to reporters on Saturday evening, Rane said, "Yes, as the health minister, I did intervene and I accept that my tone and words could have been more measured. I am not above reflection or criticism. I take full responsibility for how I communicated, and I assure you such an approach will not be repeated." "However, what I will not apologise for is standing up for a patient who was denied care," the minister said, PTI reported.

He noted that doctors hold a noble position in society and most of them at the hospital serve with dedication, “but when arrogance seeps into duty, when compassion is replaced with indifference, it is my responsibility to take action."

His remarks came after he received widespread flak and criticism by the Indian Medical Association against his move to fire the on-duty CMO.

"Over the last few hours, a lot has been said and written about an incident at the Goa Medical College today and the suspension of a doctor on duty. I feel it is important to address this directly, not just as your health minister, but as someone deeply committed to ensuring that no citizen is ever denied basic medical care, especially the elderly who deserve our utmost respect and attention," he said.

Rane said he had received a message from a family member of a senior citizen, who was already in pain and advised to receive daily injections, about how she was refused the same at the medical college's casualty ward on a public holiday.

"What made the matter worse was that the casualty (ward) had minimal patient load at the time, and yet, a simple act of compassion and care was withheld. I found this deeply upsetting," he said.

The minister said what he did was in defence of a helpless, elderly woman.

"And I will continue to speak up, act and fight for the rights of every patient who walks into our hospital," he asserted.

However, on Sunday, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that the suspension of Dr Rudresh Kuttikar, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), has been revoked.

In a post on X, Sawant said, “I have reviewed the issue at Goa Medical College and held discussions with the Health Minister. I want to assure the people of Goa that Dr Rudresh Kuttikar will not be suspended.”