A panel is looking into the issue of corruption in MCI, said Dr Harsh Vardhan.
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today defended his ministry's decision to start the repatriation of Chief Vigilance Officer H K Jethi, who has been probing corruption cases at the Medical Council of India or MCI.
He told NDTV that he too was concerned about corruption inside the MCI and had constituted a committee to look into the issue.
Mr Jethi, an Indian Ordinance Factories Services officer, had been appointed in October 2013 during the UPA's rule to probe serious allegations of corruption at the MCI.
Documents obtained by NDTV reveal that Mr Jethi had complained of 'physical harassment and intimidation' by senior MCI officials on at least three occasions.
Mr Jethi had complained to the Health Ministry, when it was under the UPA and then the NDA; the Chief Vigilance Officer had, in fact, also asked to be moved back to his parent cadre.
In October this year, the Health Ministry asked the Department of Personnel and Training to provide a panel of candidates from which it could select the next CVO. That's when the Central Vigilance Commission or CVC stepped in and asked that the anti-graft officer be provided security and support so he could carry out his investigations.
On whether security had been provided to Mr Jethi, the Health Minister said, "We can't provide security but in case any officer complains to the police, and they don't take action, we will take the matter up".
In August this year, the Health Ministry had shunted out Indian Forest Service officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi, who had been serving as the anti-graft officer at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences or AIIMs.
The ministry had claimed that Mr Chaturvedi's appointment had not been done in accordance with the rules.
The former AIIMS CVO has appealed against his removal to the CVC and has asked for an inquiry.