PGIMER warning to MS Gupta at the behest of the Ministry of Health

Chandigarh: The Union Health Ministry has given a directive to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) to issue a warning to its Medical Superintendent, Dr Anil Kumar Gupta, for having disobeyed the ministry instruction and proceeding for a WHO assignment to Nepal in 2014.Mr. Gupta is supposed to pay one third of the fee charged by him from the WHO, to the Ministry.

The institute took action against Mr. Gupta last year by charge sheeting him. The reply rendered by the Medical Superintendent, was sent to the Ministry immediately, after submission.

Indian Express reports the PGIMER received a response from the ministry on Thursday, about the case which has now been closed. “They have asked us to issue a warning to MS in the case. He will also have to pay one-third of the fees he charged from WHO for the assignment,” said a PGI source. The PGI administration has not issued any letter to Gupta in this regard so far the source further added. Mr. Gupta, in a conversation with the Chandigarh Newsline said that he had not heard anything from the Ministry of Health.

According to information Mr. Gupta went to Nepal on a WHO assignment in 2014.His trip became controversial when the then Health Minister, Harsh Vardhan during a governing body meeting of the hospital came to know of the trip and expressed surprise at Gupta having gone on leave without prior permission of the concerned authorities . The PGI former Director, Dr. Yogesh Chawla, was instructed to start ‘regular departmental proceedings’ against Gupta.

In accordance with directions, Dr. Chawla issued a charge sheet against Mr. Gupta seeking an explanation about why action should not be taken against him. In reply to the query, Mr. Gupta said that he had taken permission from the competent authority before embarking on his trip to Nepal. The file was then sent to the Ministry for a final decision.