In defence of Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, Union Minister for Health.

July 7, 2006

Dear Sirs, The media is unsure about which side to take in the ongoing war between Dr Venugopal of AIIMS and our Health Minister, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss. The newspaper editorials shriek that autonomy is under threat and that professionals are being attacked. But the answer probably is not so simple as that. Autonomy means responsible functioning under a democratic setup. It does not mean an autocratic regime which Dr Venugopal can be safely accused of ushering in. He has transformed himself into a one man institution just as Dr Kurien did in Amul. Such concentration of authority in a single person is a double edged sword. It breeds sycophants who wish to share the pie and as a result the interest of the organisation goes for a toss. Dr Venugopal has been accused by his colleagues, many of whom have since left the institution, of usurping the credits of individuals. This is a

very serious charge and goes against the basic ethics of a professional person. The resultant dissatisfaction of qualified doctors was made up by taking sides with students unions and keeping a firm grip on the sycophant lobby. This too is unbecoming of a professional. Dr Ramadoss has been accused of politicking, which incidentally is his job, but it cannot be denied that Dr Venugopal too is an astute politician. Another dissatisfaction brewing in the Institution is the segregation of students belonging to a particular category and keeping them under constant threat. In any well managed institution such things should not be condoned. After one is admitted all should be treated as equals and on merit. Why has Dr Venugopal overlooked this glaring shortcoming? Why has he preferred to look the other way? This does not reflect well on his administrative acumen. Dr Venugopal

has exceeded his term, thanks to his proximity to the political establishment. This itself has denied promotion opportunities to meritorious candidates who were more than eligible for the post. What makes Dr Venugopal so greedy for the chair? Is it for the sake of welfare of the patients, the welfare of the institution, for the sake of enjoying power, or what? The aim of the AIIMS is to treat patients, not to turn them away pushing them to their death. But this is exactly what this premier Institution is doing now. A professional director of a premier Institution who has already overstayed his term should realise the folly of this personal struggle for power and resign with grace. He will be more beneficial to his patients if he concentrates on his personal practice. Yours sincerely, Jagannath Chatterjee, Health Reform

Activist . "Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest of life by the power of the spirit." - Aurobindo.

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July 8, 2006

Dear Jagannath : I agree with your comments below

in solidarity with Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss.

Best wishes, Dr. Leo Rebello

- Jagannath Chatterjee

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Friday, July 07, 2006 3:31 PM

In defence of Dr Anbumani Ramadoss,Union Minister for Health.

Dear Sirs,

The media is unsure about which side to take in the ongoing war between Dr Venugopal of AIIMS and our Health Minister, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss. The newspaper editorials shriek that autonomy is under threat and that professionals are being attacked. But the answer probably is not so simple as that.

Autonomy means responsible functioning under a democratic setup. It does not mean an autocratic regime which Dr Venugopal can be safely accused of ushering in. He has transformed himself into a one man institution just as Dr Kurien did in Amul. Such concentration of authority in a single person is a double edged sword. It breeds sycophants who wish to share the pie and as a result the interest of the organisation goes for a toss.

Dr Venugopal has been accused by his colleagues, many of whom have since left the institution, of usurping the credits of individuals. This is a very serious charge and goes against the basic ethics of a professional person. The resultant dissatisfaction of qualified doctors was made up by taking sides with students unions and keeping a firm grip on the sycophant lobby. This too is unbecoming of a professional.

Dr Ramadoss has been accused of politicking, which incidentally is his job, but it cannot be denied that Dr Venugopal too is an astute politician.

Another dissatisfaction brewing in the Institution is the segregation of students belonging to a particular category and keeping them under constant threat. In any well managed institution such things should not be condoned. After one is admitted all should be treated as equals and on merit. Why has Dr Venugopal overlooked this glaring shortcoming? Why has he preferred to look the other way? This does not reflect well on his administrative acumen.

Dr Venugopal has exceeded his term, thanks to his proximity to the political establishment. This itself has denied promotion opportunities to meritorious candidates who were more than eligible for the post. What makes Dr Venugopal so greedy for the chair? Is it for the sake of welfare of the patients, the welfare of the institution, for the sake of enjoying power, or what?

The aim of the AIIMS is to treat patients, not to turn them away pushing them to their death. But this is exactly what this premier Institution is doing now. A professional director of a premier Institution who has already overstayed his term should realise the folly of this personal struggle for power and resign with grace.

He will be more beneficial to his patients if he concentrates on his personal practice.

Yours sincerely,

Jagannath Chatterjee,

Health Reform Activist .