Representative image.
Credit: iStock Image.
Thiruvananthapuram: With Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and top leaders of the ruling CPI(M) openly criticising a Kerala government doctor for his outburst regarding the lapses in the state's public health system, the chances of disciplinary action against the doctor is being widely anticipated.
Head of the urology department of the Thiruvananthapuram government medical college Haris Chirakkal had lamented over the undue delay in supply of surgical equipment leading to postponing of surgeries.
Even while admitting the lapses by terming those as 'minor ones', the chief minister, some of his cabinet colleagues and CPI(M) leadership openly criticised the doctor for causing defame to the much hyped public health sector of Kerala.
The chief minister said at a public function that it was not fair on the part of an official to make open statements that could help those who wish to tarnish the image of the widely acclaimed Kerala health sector.
Subsequently, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan and cultural affairs minister Saji Cheriyan also openly criticised that small issues were being blown out of permission to defame the state's health sector.
Reacting to the critical remarks, the doctor told reporters that he made the social media post owing to desperation and it could be a 'professional suicide'. He also added that he was willing to face any action.
Meanwhile, the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front is strongly backing the doctor. Opposition leader V D Satheesan said that the doctor was being threatened by the chief minister and CPI(M) leaders for exposing the serious flaws in the health sector.
Earlier health minister Veena George had ordered a probe into the revelations of the doctor that many surgeries had to be postponed owing to delay in supply of surgical equipment despite repeated requests.
After the doctor's revelation, surgical equipment like lithoclast probes and 30-degree telescopes were immediately supplied to the hospital and postponed surgeries were performed on Tuesday.