Rane’s mental health unstable, needs IPHB evaluation: Cong

Panaji: Congress on Saturday raised concerns about health minister Vishwajit Rane’s mental health after he publicly insulted and summarily suspended a chief medical officer at Goa Medical College.

The party said he doesn’t appear “truly fit to serve” as health minister, and would require an evaluation at the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB)“His increasingly erratic and unstable behaviour raises serious concerns about his ability to responsibly oversee the state’s health system,” said state Congress president Amit Patkar. “Such actions are not just unbecoming of a cabinet minister; they are symptoms of deeper psychological instability that must not be ignored.”Patkar’s reaction came within hours of Rane’s “surprise” inspection at GMC, where he publicly announced the suspension of a senior doctor while also telling the doctor to “get out” and “shut up”. The party also said that Rane’s decision to publicly humiliate the doctor in full view of reporters borders on dangerous.“It was a disgraceful display of arrogance and authoritarianism. Doctors, who dedicate their lives to serving humanity, deserve dignity and respect — not public shaming by a minister intoxicated by power,” said Patkar.Warning govt that the morale of Goa’s medical fraternity is at risk, Patkar demanded that chief minister Pramod Sawant must immediately direct Rane to undergo a full mental health check-up.