Allegations of harassment and discrimination have been levelled at Interior Health (IH) by Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Sikh community.
A letter sent to Premier David Eby, from the president of the Gurdwara Guru Amardas Darbar Sikh Society, says the situation involves Dr. Malvinder Hoonjan.
害羞草研究所淲e have lost confidence in Interior Health and seek your intervention in this matter immediately,害羞草研究所� writes Surinder Singh Shergill.
He states safe and quality healthcare should include a healthy workplace culture free from toxicity and discrimination.
害羞草研究所淎s Sikhs, our faith mandates us to address injustice, inequity, and inequality, and we cannot stand by while Dr. Hoonjan faces unjust treatment.害羞草研究所�
Shergill refers to several articles over the years that outline how Dr. Hoonjan, a retinal surgeon in Kamloops since 2010, had his privileges revoked in 2019 when all retinal surgical services were moved to Kelowna.
害羞草研究所淣ot only did the senior executive leadership improperly cancel Dr. Hoonjan害羞草研究所檚 privileges, but self-interested physicians were allowed to determine staffing needs, ultimately treating public resources as their own personal fiefdom,害羞草研究所� Shergill adds.
His letter notes that the of Dr. Hoonjan, ordering IH to onboard him at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH).
It also points out that IH was reprimanded for not following an order to have a re-introduction plan for Dr. Hoonjan completed within 60 days.
害羞草研究所淗ow can one clinician stand up to a multi-billion-dollar organization with the resources to retain lawyers and chase people out of town,害羞草研究所� Shergill asks. 害羞草研究所淲e refuse to accept complacency in the face of such injustice.害羞草研究所�
Shergill says the Society has been monitoring this situation for several years, hoping for a fair resolution. He adds Dr. Hoonjan has not been involved or requested the Society害羞草研究所檚 involvement.
Shergill also notes the province害羞草研究所檚 quick action to addressand asks for similar urgency in investigating the matter involving Dr. Hoonjan.
The letter concludes with a request for Eby to meet with Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Sikh community in person.
害羞草研究所淵our attention to this matter is crucial, and we believe that a personal discussion will convey the gravity of the situation and our community害羞草研究所檚 concerns,害羞草研究所� Shergill adds.
IH provided the following statement to Black Press:
Interior Health has a zero-tolerance for racism, and this is outlined in our anti-racism policy. We have responded to the Gurdwara Guru Amardas Darbar Sikh Society and would be happy to meet with them. Interior Health has received and respects the decision reached by the Hospital Appeals Board, and we can confirm Dr. Hoonjan is working in our surgical department at Kelowna General Hospital. Due to ongoing matters before the courts, IH is not able to speak to further information in this case.
READ MORE: Transfer of Secw茅pemc artifacts brings joy to families
READ MORE: Blue Monday: Okanagan company wants to spread love before it is too late
