Why Kerala govt's handling of ‘whistleblower' Dr Haris Chirackal raises questions

India Today

6 hours ago

Dr Haris Hassan Chirackal, head of the department of urology at the Thiruvanathapuram Government Medical College, turned a whistleblower of sorts overnight when he highlighted in a social media post back in June alleged gaps in public healthcare in Kerala and inadequacies in medical services for poor patients at his hospital.Dr Chirackal narrated how alleged scarcity of amenities, quality surgical tools and medicines hampered services. He claimed he had to postpone surgeries due to lack of functional surgical equipment.advertisementLast month, the director of medical education issued him a show-cause notice for violating service rules and going public with his grievances. Looking back at the controversy, Dr Chirackal, 56, told INDIA TODAY: 'I raised the issue on social media after several requests and reminders to the authorities were ignored. I never intended to damage the image of the government or the health department.'Dr Chirackal's criticism on social media took political hue as the Opposition in the state used it to accuse the Pinarayi Vijayan government of failures in the health sector. Vijayan himself ticked off the doctor for what the chief minister said were false claims.
Dr Chirackal apologised to the chief minister but stuck to his comments. Appearing before a probe committee, he explained in detail the equipment crises battled in operation theatres, with surgeons sometimes asking poor patients to provide these.The expert committee submitted its report to health minister Veena George and director of medical education. Later, the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College was directed to conduct a probe regarding surgical equipment used by the urology department. The probe apparently pointed to some equipment missing.On August 8, Veena George told the media that the expert committee had found Dr Chirackal to have violated the Kerala Government Servants' Conduct Rules, 1960. She said a show-cause notice would be issued to the doctor over the missing equipment.Dr Chirackal came forward to identify all the equipment in the department in the presence of authorities. Rounds of claims and counter-claims followed.Dr Chirackal, one of Kerala's top urologists, has over three decades of professional experience gained solely from giving his services in the government healthcare sector. He has a record of being regular with his hospital duties and helping hundreds of poor patients.The social media post invited not just administrative action but the wrath of cyber warriors of the ruling party. 'Some of my colleagues joined my tormentors at a time I was in deep trouble. It put me under high pressure,' said Dr Chirackal.At the same time, critics of the government and members of the medical fraternity have questioned the handling of entire episode. As a senior super-specialty doctor working in the government said: 'Dr Haris Chirackal, in his entire career, has never approached the government or ministers for personal favours. He never resisted transfers and worked wherever he was posted. Not many doctors follow such ethics in their profession. The turn of events has shattered him mentally.'advertisementTo observers, Dr Chirackal's ordeal is a test that the state government failed. What should have been an opportunity for some genuine interventions to fix problems in public healthcare in Kerala has predictably turned into an exercise of finding just faults with a reputed and veteran medical professional just because he challenged the system.Subscribe to India Today Magazine- Ends