Patient care at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) took a beating on Monday after 350 resident doctors struck work protesting an appointment to the post of institute’s dean.
Sources at the hospital said new arrivals were away and care was reserved only for existing patients availing treatment. Faculty members too joined the protest. “We question the appointment as it was done by setting aside established procedure. Also, the person who has been appointed is facing corruption charges,” said Ashima Sharma, the president of NIMS Faculty Association. Prof. Sharma said the institute’s Governing Council appoints the dean but in the case of R.V. Kumar, the appointment was made directly by the government. She also added that an Anti-Corruption Bureau enquiry found Dr. Kumar guilty of taking money from a resident doctor in return of promise to help the latter clear examinations. The ACB had placed Dr. Kumar before the Tribunal of Disciplinary Proceedings for defending the allegations against him, where the case is pending. The protesting faculty and resident doctors said they have submitted representations to the government to revoke its order. When contacted about the protests, Dr. Kumar maintained that no enquiry found him guilty. “I have faced six enquiries and was not proved guilty. The government order was issued after a proposal was sent by NIMS director and there has been no procedural lapse. This matter of administration can be resolved without putting patients to inconvenience,” he said.