Mere apology will not do, IMA to Ramadoss

New Delhi, Dec 21 (UNI) The Indian Medical Association today rejected Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss' apology for his 'derogatory remark' on Bihari doctors, saying the Centre should take him to task for his statement, and demanded that the degrees of the doctors derecognised be restored.

Speaking at a press conference, IMA Chairman K K Aggarwal and Secretary General S N Mishra said,, ''The way Dr Ramadoss expressed his views about Bihari doctors on December 14, he has hurt not only the physicians of the state but the fraternity as a whole. Merely saying sorry will not compensate for the damage done to the image of Indian doctors.'' ''If the head of a medical fraternity himself says that the doctors of my country are incompetent, it is definite that countries like the UK will look down upon us,'' the doctors said, adding no mature person could say such things which undermine the image of Indian doctors.

Dr Ramadoss, who had reportedly stated that the medical qualification of Indian doctors was derecognised in the UK because a 'Bihari' doctor had examined the abdomen for palpating spleen on right side instead of left, had yesterday apologised for his remark saying he himself was a doctor and can never ''denigrate or defame'' any doctor from any state.

The doctors also protested the Ministry's decision of making one-year rural servoce compulsory for MBBS doctors, thus increasing their wait to become doctors up to six years. They said the proposal was unacceptable as there was not only lack of infrastructure in theses areas but also security problems. Besides, the future prospects of these doctors would be bleak.

They suggested the government could start training programme in the rural areas for the doctors where they can pursue their higher education while the experienced teachers deputed on rotation could also guide these interns.

The doctors were also against the decision of the general body meeting of AIIMS to allow re-examination of a reserved category student who failed his medical examination and had alleged discrimination on the ground that he belonged to a lower caste. The IMA said the privilege should be extended to all students irrespective of caste and background.

UNI