Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has accused former Union Health Secretary Keshav Desiraju, who was removed 11 months after his appointment to the post, of violating Medical Council of India (MCI) rules.
Amid reports that Desiraju was removed because he resisted return of tainted former MCI chief Ketan Desai, Azad in a letter to Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth said, "... He completely overlooked MCI regulations which were approved by Supreme Court."
Justifying Desiraju's unceremonious exit which has created a widespread outrage, the minister, said that despite his attempts to bring transparency in MCI matters and the need to completely do away with 'any discretion on the part of the ministry, "Desiraju put up file recommending review of 14 cases where MCI had denied permission and proposing extension of date of approval".
"Little did he appreciate that review of MCI decisions by the ministry became the ground for several complaints of corruption in earlier regimes."
In his letter sent on February 24, Azad also said, "I understand that Desiraju personally pushed this matter having been approached by the promoters of a particular medical university and thus wanted the date of approval extended."
He also blamed Desiraju for losing an opportunity to send MBBS doctors to rural areas.
"Given the acute shortage of MBBS doctors in rural areas... We held wide consultations to arrive at a consensus regarding one-year compulsory rural posting after one year internship for those seeking admission in PG courses," he said.
