Mumbai's Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle (West) has once again changed its leadership, appointing a second acting dean in a short span to manage its daily affairs. This move comes after a string of incidents that have severely impacted the reputation of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) health administration.
New Leadership Takes Charge
On Wednesday, Dr Dev Shetty, who previously served as the hospital's medical superintendent, assumed the role of acting dean. Hospital staff expressed hope that this change would address persistent operational challenges. "We are hopeful this will help resolve ongoing issues like manpower shortages and security," remarked a doctor at the institution.
Dr Shetty replaces Dr Neelam Andrade, who was concurrently managing Cooper Hospital and heading Nair Hospital Dental College. The decision to install another acting dean was reportedly accelerated by a recent episode of violence targeted at doctors, underscoring the tense environment.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
The instability at Cooper Hospital traces back to the removal of the main dean, Dr Sudhir Medhekar, from his administrative powers. He was reassigned as the academic dean amid allegations of irregularities concerning contracts for multipurpose workers, which triggered a departmental enquiry.
In the subsequent months, the hospital became embroiled in controversy due to a distressing series of events. These included reports of patients being bitten by rats, significant security failures, and widespread sanitation problems. These incidents collectively painted a grim picture of the facility's operational and maintenance standards.
Ongoing Inquiry and Future Steps
Dr Medhekar has consistently claimed that he is facing repercussions for exposing corruption within the health department. Meanwhile, Dr Shetty was unavailable for immediate comment on his new appointment.
It is expected that Dr Dev Shetty will continue as the acting dean until the inquiry against Dr Sudhir Medhekar is formally concluded. The administration and staff are now looking toward this new leadership to stabilize the hospital's environment and restore public confidence in its services.
