KOLKATA: Posters alleging the existence of a “health syndicate” were seen on the walls of several medical colleges in Kolkata this weekend, accusing a group that has come to be known as the “north Bengal lobby“.
The syndicate allegedly includes RG Kar Medical College‘s former principal Sandip Ghosh, who is under court and CBI scrutiny following the rape-murder of a postgraduate resident doctor at RG Kar hospital on Aug 9.
The posters claim that the syndicate comprises a few doctors exerting control over the Bengal health department, manipulating transfers, promotions, and recruitment. Sources said the main figures in “lobby” are alumni of North Bengal Medical College. This syndicate has allegedly embraced Ghosh.
TOI reached out to four doctors named in the posters. While one did not respond, others did.
“Some people with vested interest are misleading about a syndicate or a lobby which does not exist. I deny being part of such a lobby. I am more concerned about justice for the child who has been murdered,” said Sudipto Roy, MLA and president of West Bengal Medical Council.
WBMC vice president Sushanta Roy responded: “I don’t know about any health syndicate. It is a democratic country where people might say anything but it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s true.”
According to Birupaksha Biswas, member of WBMC’s ethics committee, the posters were circulated by organisations of doctors who lost in the previous council elections. “A few doctors from IMA Bengal, apprehending defeat in the upcoming elections, are desperately trying to spread such rumours. All of this is a collective effort to politicise the entire case. I am just another normal doctor demanding justice,” Biswas said.
The posters emerged after several doctors’ unions cautioned health officials about the syndicate during a meeting at Swasthya Bhawan Saturday evening.
“The health department is completely under the control of this syndicate, run by a group of doctors. Not a single file in the health department moves without their nod. They control transfers, promotions, and recruitment. And there is a price to everything,” alleged Sajal Biswas of Service Doctors’ Forum.
The doctors’ unions alleged that the lobby interfered in students’ affairs as well. Some members were reportedly seen at a meeting with Ghosh on Aug 9 after the trainee doctor’s body was found, raising questions about their presence on the RG Kar campus, even though none are officially associated with the college.
“This is the lobby that has been trying to save Ghosh from all his misdeeds in connivance with a few officials in the health department. It has also included a few postgraduate trainee doctors in its fold and are guiding them on the wrong path,” alleged a doctor, who wished not to be named.
A doctor named in the posters is an orthopaedic surgeon who practices privately and isn’t part of the govt health system. “This syndicate needs to be weeded out. Each member of this lobby should come under CBI inquiry as Ghosh alone cannot operate such rackets of corruption and other irregularities,” alleged surgery professor Manas Gumta of Joint Platform of Doctors.