THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an unusual public disclosure, Dr Haris Chirakkal, head of the urology department at the Government Medical College, voiced serious concerns about the non-availability of critical surgical equipment, which he said had led to the postponement of multiple patient procedures.
Taking to social media on Friday, Dr Chirakkal openly criticised the hospital administration and procurement system, calling the situation “shameful and deeply distressing,” especially for underprivileged patients. While he later deleted his post, he stood by his comments, saying the emotional strain and professional helplessness pushed him to speak out.
“I was overwhelmed by the mental burden of turning away patients who had placed their trust in us. I even considered quitting. I posted on social media while on leave, just to vent,” he admitted. Four surgeries had to be cancelled, he said, due to the unavailability of essential tools.
The post prompted immediate reactions from authorities. Dr Vishwanathan K V, the acting Director of Medical Education, described the remarks as emotionally charged and claimed they misrepresented the facts. He stated that the department received the highest allocation last year, including ₹67 lakh worth of new equipment like a Lithoclast, now damaged. The delay in replacement, he said, was due to a hike in prices.
Despite this, Dr Chirakkal insisted the response was an attempt to “whitewash” a longstanding issue.
Health Minister Veena George has now ordered a probe. “We’ll verify if any gaps exist in the procurement system,” she said, adding that 317 procedures were completed last month in the department.