Four GMCH staffers suspended, one contract employee gets sack

Four staffers of the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) were suspended today and a contractual worker was sacked for their alleged involvement in "illegalities" like accepting bribes, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said.

GMCH Dean Dr Pradeep Naik suspended Gopal Gawas, Govind Chodankar, and Laxmikant Gaude--all lower division clerks--and cashier Vishnu Gaunce, whereas contractual employee Ankush Gawas was dismissed from the service.

Disciplinary proceedings were also initiated against the clerks and the cashier.

All the four have been directed not to leave the headquarters without obtaining the prior permission of the dean.

The health minister said the suspended staffers and the contractual worker were involved in gross irregularities like accepting bribes from patients to book slots in the OPD (Out Patient Department).

"Their activities were closely monitored by the GMCH management for some time before they were suspended," he said.

Some of them were running their private businesses while being on duty while some were involved in taking out important documents from the hospital, added the minister.