Delhi Medical Council summons Safdarjung Hospital doctor over junket

Acting on a complaint, Delhi Medical Council has sent a notice to the chief of the Sports Injury Centre at the Safdarjung Hospital for travelling abroad on a private company's expenses without prerequisite approval from the Health Ministry. The DMC, in its notice, sent on Monday, has now demanded a response in the next fortnight failing which will attract investigation.

As per the complaint, Dr Rajendra Kumar Arya travelled to Egypt last year between December 11 and 14 funded by a private company that sells implants, without the formal approval of the Health Ministry. Dr Arya was then the head of the department of Orthopedics at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and thus the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr VK Tiwari has also been sent a notice.

"I am being defamed by people. All the good work that I did over the years is being ignored while this travel, which is not even true, is being highlighted citing wrong reasons," said Dr Arya, chief, Sports Injury Centre, Safdarjung Hospital.

It has also been alleged that following the surfacing of the issue in January this year after pictures of him travelling in Egypt erupted on a social media site, Dr Arya was promoted and transferred from being the HOD at RML to the chief of the SIC. "We received this complaint late last month and have sent a notice with a 15-day deadline to reply, failing which we will take stronger action. If not satisfied with the response, we will further investigate the matter," said Dr Girish Tyagi, registrar, Delhi Medical Council.

While Dr VK Tiwari was unavailable for the comment, sources said that a vigilance inquiry had been set up by the hospital upon Dr Arya's return and a letter had been sent to Health Ministry.

FACT FILE

• As per the complaint, Dr Rajendra Kumar Arya travelled to Egypt last year between December 11 and 14 without the formal approval of the Health Ministry
   
• Dr Arya was then the head of the department of Orthopedics at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and thus the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr VK Tiwari has also been sent a notice