Almost 18 doctors, with superintendents included of 16 Community Health Centres, have given their resignation to the district Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in Gonda, following the District Magistrate who used objectionable language in a Covid assessment meeting.

The letter stated that DM Markandey Shahi’s misbehavior towards the doctors has hurt their feelings and hence collectively have resigned from their posts. In this pandemic, all Medical Superintendents and Additional Chief Medical Officers (ACMOs) have worked 24 hours a day being government doctors. ACMO Ajay Pratap Singh has resigned from his post due to the DM’s insensitivity towards doctors.

For a long time, Gonda DM has been using such objectionable language against the doctors during assessment meetings and field inspections. However, due to the public, they continued to complete all work related to health facilities and Covid vaccination. The DM’s behavior towards ACMO Singh during the meeting was inappropriate and have hurt the doctors. Therefore, collectively they have offered resignation from the superintendent post. 

The letter had a total of 18 signatures, 16 blocks medical in-charge, and superintendents of community centers, and two doctors, including ACMO Singh.

ACMO Singh said that the Gonda DM’s misbehavior was regular. The complaints are not new, and it was repetition on Tuesday. They are working seven days a week during the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier, the DM used uncalled-for words against them and they thought it was due to the increasing pressure of the Covid situation. His behavior did not change. 

On Tuesday, during an assessment meeting, a discussion on Bhelsar community health center ranked 14 out of 16 facilities in terms of Covid sampling came out. The center is under ACMO Singh jurisdiction. Because of the ranking, the DM asked the CMO to demote Singh and make him in charge of that center which was disrespectful. 

The DM said that the ACMOs must give certificates after distributed all medical kits which are provided by the government to the surveillance committees. They accepted and also requested that the administration should seek certificates about the usage of all kits by surveillance committees. This enraged the DM and said that the government order was only to distribute and who was he to request details of expenditure.

Divisional Commissioner S V S Rangarao and DM Markendey Shahi did not answer calls. Director General (Medical Health) D S Negi also did not comment.

Source: The Indian Express