Chhattisgarh docs protest govt action over uterus scam

 Accusing the state government of taking arbitrary action against doctors in a uterus removal scam and considering passage of a draconian Nursing Home Act which will ‘ruin private healthcare facilities’, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday warned of a state-wide agitation if the government failed to address the issue in time.

 State president of IMA Dr A Hamdani said: “Doctors will take to the streets if the government does not make public the report of the probe against doctors in the controversial uterus removal scam within two days, besides amending the norms of the proposed Private Nursing Homes Act, which is intended to ruin the private health facilities in Chhattisgarh. “IMA president of the Raipur chapter Dr Ajay Sahay said: “Only the Medical Council of India has the power to suspend the licence of a medical practitioner. The state government does not have that power, but it deliberately acted against private doctors before probing the case.” He added: “Now the final decision in the case is being delayed, which will take away the doctors’ legal right to challenge the decision in court.” An unfazed health minister Amar Agrawal said: “The government will not succumb to pressure. The probe will take its time. The guilty will not be spared.”

Private doctors reportedly removed the uterus of hundreds of women, mostly in rural areas, telling the victims that if their uterus was not removed, it could cause cancer.  The IMA Chhattisgarh state unit has warned of a stir if the government doesn’t declare the report of the probe and revokes the suspension of licences of doctors by August 8. Hamdani and Sahay said they will meet chief minister Raman Singh, health minister Amar Agrawal and officials of the health department to resolve the issue.