Rane Jr ‘nurses’ his wound after the ‘labour’ pain

Rane Jr ‘nurses’ his wound after the ‘labour’ pain

By Preetu Nair

Panjim: A nurse at Goa Medical College was suspended on Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane’s instruction because she did her duty.

However, as the matter threatened to blow out of proportion, she was reinstated back by the same minister. The nurse, Simran, was on duty in the labour room on Thursday, 27 December,2007 and was busy with a delivery process, when a man who wanted to enter the labour room to be with his better half . But as he was denied entry into the labour room, lest the rest of the expecting mothers feel uncomfortable, he allegedly called up Health Minister Rane and complained against the nurse.

Rane demanded to talk to the nurse and the man handed the mobile to the nurse stating ‘Baba’ as Rane is popularly known to his supporters wants to talk to you. But Sister Simran refused to talk to ‘Baba’ stating everyday they deliver-babas in GMC. This allegedly angered the Health minister who rushed to the hospital and fired the nurse for misbehaving and refusing to attend the phone call. Infuriated, he instructed the GMC Dean, Dr. V.N. Jindal to suspend the nurse.

So, Dr. Jindal issued the nurse’s suspension order stating,” As per the instructions of the Health Minister, you are suspended.” Upset, Simran approached the GGEA (Goa Government Employees Association) stating that she was wrongly suspended. Ganesh Chodankar, Secretary confirmed this.

Chodankar said, “She was not at fault.Simran was just doing her duty and she cannot be suspended for doing her duty in fact , this time the Health Minister is at fault because he cannot directly call a nurse on duty to issue directions. He has to call the Dean and the Dean has to issue directions to the nurses.”

The Association decided to take up her matter with the Dean on Friday afternoon, 28 December,2007. But they did not have to make any efforts , as the Dean on Friday morning issued another note to Simran. This time the note read, “As per the instructions of the Health Minister, the suspension order is revoked.”

Despite several repeated attempts , GT could not contact Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane for his comments. When contacted, Dr Jindal Dean, GMC said , “The matter has been sorted out”.

“To err is human , there was some misunderstandings but it is now sorted out . It is not a major issue,” added Neelima Rane, President , Trained Nurses Association.

(This article appeared in Gomantak Times, Panaji edition dated January 2, 2008)