Dr Haris faces heat after criticising Kerala's healthcare system
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised Dr. Haris, head of the urology department at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, for being a critic of the government and the CPM. The Chief Minister's criticism was made on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, CPM State Secretary M V Govindan and others were seen opposing the doctor, accusing him of providing weapons to the opposition. Health Minister Veena George, who had responded the previous day that there would be no retaliation for raising the issue, is now silent.
CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam supported the doctor, but the party's minister G R Anil rejected it. The CPM mouthpiece's editorial, 'This is not correction, it is destruction', aimed at the opposition, also served as a warning to the doctor.
M V Govindan accused the doctor of using his remarks to defame the world-class health sector in Kerala. If the remarks are made in a way that gives weapons to the opposition, there will naturally be a reaction, Govindan criticised. Minister Saji Cherian said that the doctor's accusations were not befitting the position he holds.
CPI State Secretary Binoy Vishwam said the doctor’s remarks didn’t seem disrespectful and affirmed the doctor’s commitment. He noted the Kerala government responded swiftly and warned against using Haris’s case to attack the government.
However, Minister G R Anil accused Haris of making a statement that has put the health sector in a worse position.
Medical college controversy: Report submitted
The expert committee report confirms Dr. Haris' criticism of the limitations of the urology department. The committee, led by Alappuzha Medical College Principal Dr Padmakumar, also recommended a radical change in the procedure to address the limitations of the systems, including the purchase of equipment.
No disciplinary action has been recommended against anyone, including Haris. The committee's assessment is that there is insufficient system in the urology department, which has the highest patient density in the medical college. The preliminary report has been handed over to the Director of Medical Education, Dr. Viswanathan. The report will be submitted to Minister Veena George on Thursday.
The surgery in Dr. Haris' unit was delayed due to shortage of the Lithoclast probe device that crushes urinary stones. The report also includes suggestions to facilitate the file movement of the HDS and reduce the number of steps through which the file passes. The heads of the departments had proposed a simplified procedure to be followed.
Openness is professional suicide - Dr. Haris
Dr. Haris who spoke openly about the shortage of equipment at the medical college, said it could be considered professional suicide.
"It is like a person committing suicide when all the roads ahead are blocked. Even if action is taken against me, my stance will continue. The Chief Minister is a person whom I respect and admire a lot as a fellow traveler of the Left. He is a guru. No matter what he does, there will be no lack of respect," said Haris Chirakkal.
'The lack of equipment in the medical college was resolved the other day. The surgeries have been completed. But there are still many shortages of equipment. There should be a permanent solution to all of that. I took a risk by sacrificing my career and job. Perhaps, I won't be able to come like this again.
The problems do not go away just because my service is being terminated. There must be steps to resolve them. I have never blamed the cabinet, the health minister or the department. I blame the bureaucracy, he said.