Equipment shortage at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital: Senior doctor's disclosure sparks row; Health Department orders probe

Chirakkal also expressed concern that he might face a Vigilance probe, as he had gone out of the way to procure medical equipment in order to ensure that surgeries are not delayed.

Thiruvananthapuram: The much-hyped health sector of Kerala is suffering a major embarrassment with a senior doctor in government service openly lamenting that the delay in the supply of surgical equipment was leading to the postponement of surgeries.

Dr. Haris Chirakkal, head of the urology department of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, made the revelation on social media. Though he withdrew the social media post on Saturday following assurance that the issues would be addressed, he is sticking to his version that even as the matter was brought to the health minister's office, there was no relief.

Even while ordering an inquiry into the allegations, health minister Veena George tried to justify by stating that various equipment worth Rs. 700 crore was purchased for the medical college recently. Director of medical education Dr K V Viswanathan also tried to downplay Dr. Chirakkal's allegations by stating that no other department heads had raised any such complaint.

However, Dr. Chirakkal told reporters on Sunday that though he had apprised his superior officials, including the health minister's office, about the difficulties caused by the delay in the supply of surgical equipment, there was no relief. He also said that though new equipment was purchased, the equipment required for making it operational was not being supplied in time. The Lithoclast equipment required for treating urinary stones is still dysfunctional. When the 30-degree telescopes were damaged, there were allegations that doctors deliberately damaged it. The doctors, at their risk, are now advising patients to get some equipment by pooling money.

"Many superior officials were trying to cover up the lapses by not conveying the real situation to the government. About a year back the health minister's private secretary contacted me following a complaint that one of his relatives did not receive proper attention from me. I used that opportunity to convey the difficulties caused due to the delay in supply of medical equipment. He then checked with the officials concerned. But the officials maintained that there were not many issues. Since I studied in government schools and colleges I wish to offer my service to the public who seek treatment at government hospitals," said Dr. Chirakkal.

The opposition Congress-led UDF alleged that the bogus claims being made by the CPM government over the state health sector were getting exposed.

"It is once again proved that what the government used to hype about the state's public health sector were only public relation propaganda and not the real situation," opposition leader V D Satheesan told reporters.