Doctors in Agartala protested at the AGMC and GBP Hospital on Wednesday after a colleague posted at a COVID Care Center in the city was suspended.

AGMC and GBP Hospital is the sole dedicated COVID hospital in Tripura. The protesting doctors were from the state chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) Teachers Forum, and All Tripura Government Doctors Association (ATGDA).

The suspended doctor, Dr. Uttam Bhattacharjee, who was posted at the Bhagat Singh COVID Care Center, is an Assistant Professor of the Department of Ophthalmology of AGMC.

Joint Secretary Debashish Das, in an order issued on Tuesday, stated that Dr. Bhattacharjee was being suspended under sub rule (I) of Rule 10 of the Central Civil Service (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965.It further stated that disciplinary proceeding was being considered against the doctor and he was ordered not to leave Agartala without permission.

ATGDA secretary, Dr. Rajesh Choudhury, stated that they were not aware of the reason for the doctor’s suspension. Dr. Choudhury also stated that the suspension was not justified.

He added that they had heard that a public representative had visited the COVID Care Center and he was not stopped during this visit. That could be the reason for Dr. Bhattacharjee’s suspension. But they were not sure if this was true. But he stated that even if it was true, it was highly unjustified.

Former health minister and an MLA, Sudip Roy Barman, had visited the center on Sunday and has been booked for unauthorized entry into a COVID care centre.

A source stated that the doctor was on a round when the MLA visited. The rounds involve around 290 patients and take up to three hours. By the time the doctor came back, the MLA had gone. (The Indian Express)

Source: The Indian Express