Bhubaneswar: Former Sundergarh CDMO in-charge Pankaj Patel, who was suspended from his post a few days ago during a surprise visit of 5T secretary VK Pandian, termed the Mo Sarkar initiative a stunt show by the government for image building.
Opening up about the reason behind his suspension during OTV's Khola Katha programme on Thursday, Pankaj said that it was more like an arbitrary decision by the government.
“I am not blaming anyone but I feel as if I was suspended for not providing rice to a patient’s attendant even though we don’t have any such provision. The attendant complained of not getting rice for seven days, but I found that he was inebriated while complaining and arrived at the hospital only a day before the incident. But without considering the truth behind allegations or allowing me to present my stand, the government suspended me only on the basis of public complaints,” Pankaj said to Khola Katha.
Highlighting widespread staff shortage in PHCs, CHs and district headquarters hospitals along with poor infrastructure and lack of other facilities, he claimed that the push for 5T will not be successful if the government does not give enough attention for remedial measures and is only hell bent on force-implementing the reforms for image building.
It may be noted that following telecast of Khola Katha programme, the State government today revoked the suspension order on Pankaj and reinstated him as Senior Consultant of Medicine at Sambalpur District Headquarters Hospital.
Earlier, on October 13, Patel was suspended by VK Pandian, the Secretary of Transformation and Initiatives (5T) over charges of negligence and lapses in implementation of ‘Mo Sarkar’ initiative.