Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 2 (PTI) - A senior government doctor, who recently brought attention to the lack of surgical equipment and procedural delays at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, asserted on Wednesday that the issues were swiftly addressed only after he made them public.
Dr. Haris Chirakkal questioned whether creating controversy is the sole method to resolve such problems. In a recent Facebook post, he highlighted the shortage of essential medical supplies that had led to surgery postponements, despite repeated assurances from the authorities. Patients had been left suffering, awaiting timely treatments.
During an interaction with reporters, Dr. Chirakkal revealed that a file concerning one of the necessary equipment had been stalled at the Collectorate for about two months, but it was promptly processed after his FB post. Another piece of equipment arrived at the hospital amid an ongoing inquiry related to his disclosures.
"How were these resolved so quickly when I raised an issue?" he queried, questioning the pace of bureaucratic response.
Dr. Chirakkal acknowledged Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's comments, admitting that his revelations, if misrepresented, might obscure the overall excellence of the state's healthcare system.
"He (Chirakkal) is an earnest government employee, uncorrupted and genuinely dedicated to his responsibilities. Yet, he has inadvertently contributed to a skewed perception of what is arguably India's best healthcare system," CM Vijayan remarked during an event in Kannur.
Responding to media questions, Dr. Chirakkal admitted that his statements might have caused some harm to the health sector. However, his intent was solely to address the shortage of equipment and not to target the health department or the hospitals. He emphasized the need to eliminate red-tapism and bureaucratic delays.
Despite the Chief Minister's remarks, Dr. Chirakkal expressed his respect for Vijayan. While expecting some opposition, he found that people from various political affiliations agreed with his concerns.
Meanwhile, an editorial in the CPI(M) mouthpiece, Deshabhimani, indicated that Dr. Chirakkal's comments had fostered misunderstandings, but swift intervention by the health department resolved the issue. It announced that a committee has been formed to investigate the matter and recommend preventive measures. The article claimed that the opposition attempted to exploit the situation politically by projecting a negative image of the state's public health sector.
Pointing out flaws is acceptable, but it should not be confused with attempts to undermine the government based on minor shortcomings.
(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)