Why Principal Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam, West Bengal Health and Family Welfare Department needs to be removed?
Junior doctors of West Bengal are demanding the removal of Principal Secretary West Bengal Health and Family Welfare Department Narayan Swaroop Nigam. How far their demand is justified, let's look at the role of Narayan Swaroop Nigam (IAS) in the current crisis in the health sector in West Bengal.
Ex-RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh had resigned as the principal of RG Kar Hospital on August 12 in the aftermath of the rape-murder of trainee doctor. However, he was appointed as the principal of another state-run medical college Calcutta National Medical College soon after his resignation. As Principal Secretary West Bengal Health and Family Welfare Department Narayan Swaroop Nigam must take responsibility for reinstatement of Sandip Ghosh.
The corruption allegations against Sandeep Ghosh were made by Akhtar Ali, who was the Deputy Medical Superintendent at RG Kar and now holds the same post at Murshidabad Medical College. Dr. Ali l
during his tenure as the deputy superintendent at R G Kar a year ago he had written to the state vigilance commission, alleging the involvement of former principal Sandip Ghosh and other senior officials in financial corruption and nepotism. But no action was taken against Sandeep Ghosh despite an investigation finding him guilty.
Ali claimed he had submitted an inquiry report to the state health department against Dr Ghosh but was transferred from RG Kar Hospital the same day.
In the month of August the West Bengal government had backtracked the transfer order of 42 doctors, which it had issued earlier . The news of transfer orders, which came amidst the ongoing protests over the rape and murder of the junior doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, had drawn massive backlash from the opposition and doctors fraternity.
The doctors' association had criticised the decision of the state government, claiming that it was trying to intimidate the doctors who had been protesting for the victim's justice.
Out of the 42 doctors who have been transferred, two — namely Dr. Sangeeta Paul and Dr. Supriya Das — were previously posted at RG Kar MCH, where the victim's body was found on August 9.
