The Gujarat government on Friday, 21 August ordered the transfer of senior doctor Dr Ashwin Ramani from Rajkot Civil Hospital to a primary health centre in Panchmahal district after he was accused of slapping and verbally abusing a woman resident doctor during an altercation at the hospital's emergency ward. Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said the government had taken the incident 'extremely seriously' and personally assured the affected doctor of justice and security.

What Happened at the Emergency Ward

The incident took place on Thursday evening at the emergency ward of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay (PDU) Civil Hospital in Rajkot. According to the complaint, an elderly patient in critical condition was brought in at around 7:30 pm – 7:45 pm. A disagreement reportedly developed over the patient's admission and treatment, after which the confrontation escalated into alleged physical and verbal abuse.

The woman doctor, identified in reports as Dr Krisha Singhala, a first-year resident in the medicine department, filed a formal complaint. Police subsequently booked Ramani and detained him on Friday in connection with the allegations.

Government's Response and Action Taken

According to the Health Department's statement, Ramani, who was serving at R.Z. Hospital in Rajkot, has been transferred to the Primary Health Centre at Vavkundli in Panchmahal district on the minister's instructions. The department has also initiated legal action against him in accordance with applicable rules.

Minister Pansheriya said he personally spoke to the affected doctor over telephone after being informed of the incident. 'The state government has taken the incident of misconduct with a woman doctor at Rajkot Civil Hospital extremely seriously,' he said, adding that the government would 'not tolerate misconduct or inappropriate behaviour at the workplace.'

Resident Doctors Stage Protest

Resident doctors at the hospital staged a protest over the incident, raising concerns about workplace safety before the complaint was formally lodged and authorities intervened. The protest underscores a broader anxiety among junior medical staff about their security in government hospital settings — a concern that has surfaced repeatedly across Indian states in the past year.

Guidelines Issued Statewide

The Health Department has issued guidelines to government health institutions across Gujarat to ensure a safe, respectful, and positive working environment. Pansheriya said the safety and dignity of every woman employee and doctor in the state's health services is a priority. 'Women doctors played an important role in providing healthcare services and the government is committed to ensuring a workplace where their dignity and respect are protected,' he said.

With police action underway and a statewide directive issued, the focus now shifts to whether institutional safeguards — beyond individual transfers — will be put in place to prevent recurrence.