VIP acting all high and mighty led to the transfer of an honest doctor who was just doing her job. In a disgraceful incident, a doctor named Veena Singh was transferred from her government hospital service because she refused to attend to a local MLA.

India Today reported that the incident took place in Karnataka on September 18 last year. Singh was on night duty and was looking after a woman in labour. She was the only doctor on duty from 4:30 pm onwards on that particular day.

There were some minor accident cases as well that needed to be tended to. Hence, Singh was working incessantly while on duty. She informed that around 8:30 pm a road accident had taken place in which three persons had been injured. That case also required her assistance.

While she was examining a few patients in the labour room, she was informed by a nurse that an auto driver called and asked Singh to come to the MLA’s house immediately as he was not well. She even alleged that the auto driver was drunk and after taking cognisance of the situation at hand, she told him to speak to the Assistant Medical Officer over the phone. The MLA has been identified as Mahadev from Janata Dal (Secular) party.

"I was taken by surprise as this was very new to me and I was the only doctor in the hospital with patients in the labour room and causality. So, I called up our AMO [Assistant Medical Officer] Dr. Srinivas and informed him about the situation." she wrote in a letter to the Karnataka Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA).

Photo: JD(S) MLA Mahadev who filed a complaint against Dr. Veena Singh

The driver denied to talk to AMO on phone and left saying that the MLA shall come to the hospital himself. A bed had also been arranged to treat the MLA. What happened afterwards was even more alarming.

The politician returned the next morning at 7:30 am. Not alone but reportedly with 20 to 25 followers and media as well. As Singh tried to explain her situation, the man in question refused to understand.

He later even filed a complaint against her. However, the department director said that Singh had done nothing wrong and refused to take any action against her. Despite all this, four months since this incident Dr Veena Singh was transferred to a facility 500 kms away in Chitradurga hospital.

Deep-rooted VIP culture has hampered the country’s growth over the years. Even the most successful and respected people have been at the receiving end of these corrupt practices.

Couldn’t attend MLA, got transferred, says Dr Veena Singh, Transferred Doctor while speaking to TIMES NOW #EndVIPNetagiri pic.twitter.com/zktBtAMLud — TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) January 6, 2019

For instance, in December last year during the ongoing Hockey World Cup in Odisha, the national team members were shouted at by influential people in the Hockey India administration. According to reports, the players had entered the VIP Lounge Kalinga Stadium. The group of players included captain Manpreet Singh.