The council recently issued a press statement advising the public that Bhagat is not a cardiologist and is therefore not licensed as one. He is registered as a general practitioner, it says. The council furthermore, said that Bhagat should desist from calling himself a cardiologist or else it would take legal action against him. Bhagat, on the other hand, insists that he is a cardiologist and that he will continue to attend to patients as a cardiologist. More importantly, he will sue the Medical Professionals Council if it fails to retract its statement saying he is not a cardiologist. What is most worrisome is the fact that the council, a body duly established not only to promote the highest standards in the practice of health care in Botswana, but also to safeguard the welfare and interests of the public in the practice and delivery of health care, took eight years to decide that Bhagat is not a cardiologist; eight long years during which Bhagat treated thousands of patients, some of whom included relatives and patients of members of the council. During those eight years, Professor Bhagat performed many operations on heart patients. Many have been and continue to receive treatment from him. The council's claim that investigations delayed because the investigators were going to and from Botswana and other places where Bhagat worked does not suffice. Surely the council would have, among other things, conducted an inspection of Bhagat's premises before allowing him to conduct business in those premises. In fact, it is the council that registered him as a practitioner. As things stand, we do not know who between Bhagat and the Council is being insincere. Why? Is not the council empowered to deregister members who behave unethically? Why is the council dithering if Bhagat is unethical? Surely if he claims to be a specialist in a field in which he is not, he is being unethical and the council should surely bar him. The Attorney General advises the council. Surely, masquerading as a specialist doctor should be a crime?
Why then is Bhagat not being arrested? It appears that the council is itself not very sure of its position. Dr Bhagat continues to practice as a cardiologist while the council is talking legal action. Should not the nation expect such legal action to be swift, at least to have been taken on the day the council made a determination that it was going to issue a press statement? Bhagat remains adamant that he is a cardiologist, and he sees patients. We do expect that the Council, as with any group led by humans, might have its own shortcomings. It is our hope that this whole saga is not a result of politics within the organisation. We call upon those responsible to speedily bring a resolution to this matter. Too many an anxious hearts are waiting.
