Thiruvananthapuram: A senior government doctor's public disclosure about a shortage of surgical equipment and resulting delays in surgeries at the state-run Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital has sparked a major controversy in Kerala, prompting the Health Department to order a probe.
Dr Haris Chirakkal, head of the Urology Department at the hospital, brought the issue to light through a strongly worded Facebook post on Saturday, which he later deleted. Despite removing the post, he stood by his claims, telling reporters on Sunday that his concerns were genuine and not politically motivated.
“What I said was fact. I don't want to go into hiding after telling the truth. There are no political intentions behind my disclosure,” he said, adding that he had repeatedly raised the matter with the medical college principal and hospital superintendent, but no action had been taken.
Although he does not have direct access to Health Minister Veena George, Dr Chirakkal said he had informed her office about the difficulties faced by his department and the hospital at large. He claimed that surgeries were often delayed and, in many cases, conducted only after patients purchased the required medical equipment themselves, following requests from doctors.
The senior urologist also expressed his frustration with the system, saying he had grown tired of frequently reaching out to voluntary organisations and medical companies to source equipment due to the persistent shortages. This sense of helplessness, he said, forced him to speak out about the systemic failures.
Dr Chirakkal voiced concern that he might face a Vigilance investigation for taking extraordinary steps to ensure surgeries were not delayed. However, he said he was not afraid of any inquiry. “Many of my colleagues have joined the private sector. I studied in a government medical college and chose to continue serving in the public system,” he said.
Reports of possible disciplinary action against Dr Chirakkal triggered widespread support from the medical community. The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) extended full support to him on Sunday, warning that they would strongly intervene if any retaliatory steps were taken.
The issue first came to public attention through Dr Chirakkal’s social media post, in which he described the "greatest helplessness" of a head of department in a government hospital as the unavailability of essential equipment for treatment. He alleged that many scheduled surgeries had recently been postponed due to this issue, and that earlier assurances from authorities had gone unfulfilled. He further criticised officials for showing little interest in resolving the matter while ordinary people endured pain waiting for timely treatment.
Dr Chirakkal said the pressure of being unable to carry out his responsibilities towards patients had placed him under severe mental stress. Soon after his post went viral, Director of Medical Education (DME), Dr Vishwanathan K, responded by calling the statements "misleading" and an emotional outburst. He claimed the delays in procuring equipment were only technical and that the government had already purchased everything required for the Urology Department.
While Dr Chirakkal agreed to delete his post following a request from the DME, he maintained that the core issues he raised were still unresolved.
State Health Minister Veena George stated that a comprehensive investigation would be conducted into the concerns raised by the senior doctor. She said the matter had not previously been brought to her attention and that she had now sought an immediate report from the relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, KGMCTA state president Dr Rosnara Begum defended Dr Chirakkal, stating that the volume of patients and the usage of medical equipment at government hospitals is extremely high. She urged against politicising the issue, noting that many doctors hesitate to speak up due to fear of disciplinary actions. “Dr Chirakkal is not someone who acts for personal gain. If any action is taken against him, the Association will respond firmly,” she said in a television interview.
With PTI inputs