Why Are Doctors at Bhopal Hospital Protesting Against Aruna Kumar's Appointment as Director of Medical Education?
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The appointment of <b>Aruna Kumar</b> as DME has sparked outrage among doctors at GMC, citing past incidents of suicides linked to her tenure. Will the government heed their demands?
Key Takeaways
- Protests erupted at GMC against Aruna Kumar's appointment.
- Past incidents of suicide raise serious concerns.
- Doctors demand a rollback of the appointment decision.
- Major medical associations are involved in the protests.
- The situation may escalate to an indefinite strike.
Bhopal, May 3 (NationPress) The decision made by the Madhya Pradesh government to appoint Aruna Kumar as the new Director of Medical Education (DME) at Bhopal's Gandhi Medical College (GMC) has ignited significant controversy.
On Saturday, the Junior Doctors Association along with the Medical Teachers Association (MTA) of GMC, the largest medical institution in the state, organized a protest against Kumar's appointment as DME.
The protesting doctors are urging the state government to reconsider its decision, pointing to the tragic cases of suicide involving two junior doctors during her previous term as the Head of the Department (HoD) of gynaecology in 2023.
Rakesh Malviya, the MTA General Secretary of GMC, stated that Kumar had previously been removed from GMC on two occasions due to her improper conduct with staff members.
Numerous complaints regarding Kumar's behavior have been filed by doctors and staff alike.
“Aruna Kumar was dismissed from her role as the HoD of gynaecology after the suicide of junior doctor Bala Maheshwari, who took her life at GMC's hostel. She was removed following intervention from the Union Health Minister in 2023. We are astonished by the government's decision to appoint her as the new DME,” Malviya informed IANS.
Malviya also revealed that a delegation from the MTA has met with Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, who is also the Health Minister of Madhya Pradesh, demanding a rollback of this decision.
“Today’s demonstration serves as a warning. If the government does not retract its decision, all junior doctors and medical staff will initiate an indefinite strike, and the government will be accountable for any disruption in medical services at GMC,” he added.
During the protest at GMC, doctors displayed pamphlets and banners featuring images of Bala Saraswati, a medical student from Hyderabad who also committed suicide at GMC in July 2023.
Police had discovered a suicide note (via WhatsApp message) revealing that she had cited persistent mental torture from Aruna Kumar as the reason for her tragic decision.
In January 2024, another junior doctor, Akanksha Maheswari, aged 27 from Gwalior, also died by suicide, attributing her decision to the toxic atmosphere at GMC.
Following these tragic events, Kumar was removed from her position as HoD of gynaecology; however, she was reinstated in a few months as the HoD of obstetrics and gynaecology.
Point of View
It is crucial to acknowledge the serious concerns raised by the medical community regarding Aruna Kumar's appointment. The tragic loss of young lives linked to her previous leadership raises questions about the suitability for the role. Balancing governance and the welfare of medical staff is imperative for maintaining trust and integrity in the healthcare system.
NationPress
08/06/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the protest against Aruna Kumar?
Doctors are protesting against Aruna Kumar's appointment due to her previous tenure, which saw tragic incidents including the suicides of junior doctors linked to her leadership.
Who organized the protest at GMC?
The protest was organized by the Junior Doctors Association in conjunction with the Medical Teachers Association of Gandhi Medical College.
What are the doctors demanding?
The protesting doctors are demanding that the state government roll back its decision to appoint Aruna Kumar as DME.
What incidents have raised concerns about Kumar's leadership?
Concerns have arisen from the suicides of two junior doctors during Kumar's previous role as HoD of gynaecology, which some attribute to her behavior.
What actions may the doctors take if their demands are not met?
If the government does not retract its decision, the doctors have threatened to go on an indefinite strike.
