Anti Ragging Project: MUHS seeks feedback from students; team visits GMCs

Nagpur: Marking a significant step towards updating anti-ragging policies, Dr Dileep Mhaisekar, Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) recently visited the Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) and Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), seeking feedback from medical students and staffs regarding anti-ragging initiatives in the medical colleges.

Dr Mhaisekar visited GMCH while heading a committee that was set up by MUHS under the anti-ragging pilot project, specifically after the suicide of Dr Payal Tadvi, a junior doctor in Mumbai, in May 2019. Medical Dialogues had extensively reported about the unfortunate case, wherein, the 26-year-old PG medico Dr Payal Tadvi pursuing MD Gynecology from a well known BYL Nair Hospital in Mumbai had allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself in her hostel room. The doctor was allegedly under depression as three of her senior colleagues allegedly used to harass her with casteist remarks.

Also Read: Dr Payal Tadvi Suicide Case: 2 Accused Doctors Exonerated By Maharashtra Human Rights Panel

A few months ago, release of an official data revealed that the apex Medical Council of India (MCI) received over 73 ragging complaints since the year 2015-16 till 2018 end. With ragging menace continuing to plague the Indian medical education sector and doesn't seem to have an end; MUHS constituted the committee for working towards achieving the goal of zero-ragging incidents in medical colleges.

Also Read: 73 Ragging Cases With MCI In Last 5 Years; Maximum From UP

The committee will be further visiting all government and private medical colleges and the visit will be wrapped up by February 10. During their visit, the team will jot down ragging and discriminatory-related data. As per a recent TOI report, the collected data will be submitted to the government as well as to the Medical Council of India (MCI). Based on the data, a comprehensive report will be prepared and submitted in March 2020.

During the team's recent visit, Dr Mhaisekr, VC, MUHS met the Under-Graduate (UG) and Post-graduate (PG) students and even the staff members, deans and in-charges of anti-ragging cells separately, seeking feedback related to anti-ragging measures and initiatives taken by the institutes.

Commenting on the visit, Dr Sajal Mitra, Dean, GMCH told TOI that meetings were held in a positive atmosphere. "The committee members interacted with UG students and junior doctors independently without any pressure of seniors or staff. An anti-ragging cell in GMCH is functioning effectively, " he added.