A doctor’s facebook post jolts government awake as a political storm rages

Thiruvananthapuram: A senior doctor, serving at the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram, has jolted the government highlighting the state’s shocking ‘lack of surgical equipment’ at the government-run medical facilities.

The whistleblower doctor Haris Chirakkal, head of Urology at the medical college, in a Facebook post said that his department had to put off three out of four surgeries due to the scarcity of equipment, The Indian Express reported.

Dr Haris Chirakkal said he had been knocking on the doors of authorities including health minister Veena George for months without any having any response.

‘Patients are forced to buy surgical equipment. There is a thought in me about quitting the job,’ he wrote.

The doctor blamed the delay in supply of surgical equipment on the state’s bureaucratic bottleneck, adding that he was ready to face consequence including even losing the job to ‘speaking the truth’.

Responding to the post, the Congress quickly criticized the government saying that the state’s health sector is on ‘ventilator support’.

However, Health Minister Veena George claimed the matter had never come before her or the Director of Medical Education.

‘As per the report of the DME, of the four surgeries scheduled on Thursday, one was postponed due to some snag with a probe (a surgical equipment). This issue is neither before me nor the department,’ she was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Director of Medical Education Dr K V Vishwanathan told of seeking explanation from the doctor and taking action against him if it is not satisfactory.

Dr Haris remained firm in his stand, while the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association extended support to him.

‘The truth should not be covered up. Many of my friends have joined private hospitals and become crorepatis. I have studied in a government medical college and I am working in the government sector with the intention of giving back to society,’ the doctor was quoted as saying.

Amid the controversy, the minister said ‘I understand that Dr Haris is a genuine and hardworking doctor. He had specifically stated certain things. I have asked the DME to conduct a detailed probe into the issues he had raised.’

Opposition leader V D Satheesan said that the situation in state’s health sector is different from the one PR agencies are projecting, adding that it is not limited to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College alone, ‘Other medical colleges in the state are also facing shortage of equipment.’