Latest news with #KeralaGovernmentServants'ConductRules
The Hindu
03-08-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Row over Urology department HoD's Facebook post: expert panel recommends measures for hassle-free supply of equipment
An expert panel which probed the systemic issues raised by the Head of Department (HoD), Urology, of the Government Medical College here in a Facebook post in June has recommended measures for the hassle-free and uninterrupted supply of essential medical equipment. At the same time, the panel concluded in its report that HoD Dr. Haris Chirackal, who kicked up a political storm with his social media post, had violated the code of conduct for government employees even though his intention was 'good.' Such tendencies should be discouraged, it said. 'Government employees are expected to maintain a professional demeanour, avoid conflicts of interest, and uphold the integrity of the public service,' the report said, citing the Kerala Government Servants' Conduct Rules, 1960. The four-member committee comprised senior doctors from government medical colleges in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Kollam. In a Facebook post on June 27, Dr. Chirackal had vented his frustration at having had to call off a surgical procedure at the last minute due to the unavailability of an equipment accessory. Procurement delay The committee observed that the entire issue stemmed from the delay in the procurement of the Pneumatic Lithoclast probe. Dr. Chirackal had told the Committee that his grievances were not addressed by the authorities despite repeated requests. 'The delay can be attributed to insufficient financial delegation for the Hospital Development Society (HDS) Secretary, getting necessary administrative sanction and the recent price hike of the item,' the panel noted. In its report, the committee called for simplified purchase procedures of costly consumables and disposables, ensuring fund availability through the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP), and streamlining the process of securing administrative sanction for the purchase of equipment. It further suggested that the financial delegation powers of the Hospital Superintendent should be enhanced so that equipment and accessories can be purchased using Hospital Development Society funds in emergencies. It also observed that if the administrative sanctions for the procurement of equipment are made available by May instead of August every year, the purchase process can be made hassle-free. Further, the expert panel has also recommended a departmental investigation into a Tissue Morcillator with Morcilloscope costing ₹12 lakh that was allegedly missing from the Urology department. On July 31, the Director of Medical Education had issued a show cause notice to Dr. Chirackal on why action should not be initiated against him for violating provisions of the Government Servants Conduct Rules.
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Min defends show-cause notice to doc
T'puram: Health minister Veena George said on Friday that a probe team investigating the alleged shortcomings in the urology department of Thiruvananthapuram Govt Medical College Hospital reported that a part of costly equipment in the department was missing. The probe team was set up following urology head Dr Haris Chirackal 's revelation about the lack of medical equipment and emergency facilities at the MCH. Veena stated that a departmental inquiry would be conducted as the missing part of the medical equipment, brought using an MP's fund, might have been stolen. If necessary, a police complaint would be registered after the departmental inquiry. The public revelation by Dr Haris, known for his integrity and commitment to patients, has put the health department and the govt in a tight spot. Ever since Dr Haris tried to expose the poor facilities and their grave impact on patients, the govt's response to Haris remained mercurial. Veena mentioned that the show-cause notice issued to Dr Haris was part of the routine procedure. The notice was served based on the probe team's findings that the senior doctor's open criticism of the department and the system in place amounted to indiscipline and a violation of the code of conduct for govt employees. The health department's additional chief secretary issued the notice asking him to show reasons why action should not be taken against him for criticising the govt in violation of the Kerala Government Servants' Conduct Rules , 1960, causing disgrace to the govt. Meanwhile, Dr Haris told reporters that he would submit the reply to the show-cause notice next week. On the allegation about missing equipment, Dr Haris said nobody should play with the lives of poor patients. He mentioned that the doctors who were in the probe team were known to him for years and they would not put him in a bad light. Will oppose move against doc: Opposition leader Meanwhile, opposition leader V D Satheesan said the UDF would fight the move to initiate action against Dr Haris. "The opposition will strongly react against the unfortunate situation where a doctor is being persecuted for speaking the truth. A doctor who revealed the happenings in the health sector should not be made a scapegoat. Instead of using his revelations positively, there is an attempt to hunt him down. The govt is taking steps to ensure no other doctor speaks out. The govt has twisted the situation to the extent of accusing the doctor of theft," Satheesan said. "In the past two years, the govt owes Rs 1,100cr to the medical services corporation. The payments from previous years are also pending. As a result, no major company is supplying medicines," he said. On the controversy in Kerala University, Satheesan said, "The govt should resolve the issue between the chief minister and the governor. Two of the participants in the RSS's Gyan Sabha were appointed by the Pinarayi govt." On the construction of houses for landslide survivors in Wayanad, Satheesan said Congress and the League will build a hundred houses each. "Why hasn't the govt utilised the Rs 742cr? They are not even paying rent. No assistance, including medical aid, is being provided. Not a single house has been built. I handed over the keys to 14 houses built by a private organization," he said.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Min defends show-cause notice to doc
T'puram: Health minister Veena George said on Friday that a probe team investigating the alleged shortcomings in the urology department of Thiruvananthapuram Govt Medical College Hospital reported that a part of costly equipment in the department was missing. The probe team was set up following urology head Dr Haris Chirackal's revelation about the lack of medical equipment and emergency facilities at the MCH. Veena stated that a departmental inquiry would be conducted as the missing part of the medical equipment, brought using an MP's fund, might have been stolen. If necessary, a police complaint would be registered after the departmental inquiry. The public revelation by Dr Haris, known for his integrity and commitment to patients, has put the health department and the govt in a tight spot. Ever since Dr Haris tried to expose the poor facilities and their grave impact on patients, the govt's response to Haris remained mercurial. Veena mentioned that the show-cause notice issued to Dr Haris was part of the routine procedure. The notice was served based on the probe team's findings that the senior doctor's open criticism of the department and the system in place amounted to indiscipline and a violation of the code of conduct for govt employees. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo The health department's additional chief secretary issued the notice asking him to show reasons why action should not be taken against him for criticising the govt in violation of the Kerala Government Servants' Conduct Rules, 1960, causing disgrace to the govt. Meanwhile, Dr Haris told reporters that he would submit the reply to the show-cause notice next week. On the allegation about missing equipment, Dr Haris said nobody should play with the lives of poor patients. He mentioned that the doctors who were in the probe team were known to him for years and they would not put him in a bad light. Will oppose move against doc: Opposition leader Meanwhile, opposition leader V D Satheesan said the UDF would fight the move to initiate action against Dr Haris. "The opposition will strongly react against the unfortunate situation where a doctor is being persecuted for speaking the truth. A doctor who revealed the happenings in the health sector should not be made a scapegoat. Instead of using his revelations positively, there is an attempt to hunt him down. The govt is taking steps to ensure no other doctor speaks out. The govt has twisted the situation to the extent of accusing the doctor of theft," Satheesan said. "In the past two years, the govt owes Rs 1,100cr to the medical services corporation. The payments from previous years are also pending. As a result, no major company is supplying medicines," he said. On the controversy in Kerala University, Satheesan said, "The govt should resolve the issue between the chief minister and the governor. Two of the participants in the RSS's Gyan Sabha were appointed by the Pinarayi govt." On the construction of houses for landslide survivors in Wayanad, Satheesan said Congress and the League will build a hundred houses each. "Why hasn't the govt utilised the Rs 742cr? They are not even paying rent. No assistance, including medical aid, is being provided. Not a single house has been built. I handed over the keys to 14 houses built by a private organization," he said.
Hindustan Times
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Show cause notice to MCH doctor a routine procedure, says Minister Veena George
Thiruvananthapuram, The show cause notice issued to the head of the Urology department at the Thiruvananthapuram government medical college hospital was only part of a routine department-level action, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said on Friday. Show cause notice to MCH doctor a routine procedure, says Minister Veena George The Director of Medical Education had on Thursday issued a show cause notice to Haris Chirackal, asking why action should not be taken against him for criticising the government in violation of the Kerala Government Servants' Conduct Rules,1960, causing disgrace to the government. Through a Facebook post on June 27, Dr Chirakkal had expressed his resentment against the non-availability of an equipment accessory for an important surgery in his department at the medical college. The post was widely discussed in the public domain and several such inadequacies at various government hospitals in the state were highlighted by the media. The minister said a four-member expert panel was constituted to examine the doctor's action and based on its report, the DME had sought an explanation from the doctor. 'It is a routine official procedure,' she said. George said the expert panel had found that Dr Chirakkal had violated service rules by going public about the issue and not approaching higher-ups in the department. The panel had also reported that part of an equipment at the Urology department was found missing and recommended a separate enquiry into the matter. Besides this, the panel also suggested that the purchasing power of superintendents of medical college hospitals, who are also Hospital Development Committee secretaries, be increased, George said. Sharply reacting to the action against the doctor who complained about lack of facilities at the MCH, Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan said on Friday that the state is being ruled by a few people who will not shy away from doing whatever they want. 'The government is even trying to trap the doctor in a theft case now,' he alleged. Dr Chirakkal told reporters that he would give a reply to the notice within seven days as directed by the DME. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
01-08-2025
- Health
- News18
Show cause notice to MCH doctor a routine procedure, says Minister Veena George
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 1 (PTI) The show cause notice issued to the head of the Urology department at the Thiruvananthapuram government medical college hospital (MCH) was only part of a routine department-level action, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said on Friday. The Director of Medical Education (DME) had on Thursday issued a show cause notice to Haris Chirackal, asking why action should not be taken against him for criticising the government in violation of the Kerala Government Servants' Conduct Rules,1960, causing disgrace to the government. Through a Facebook post on June 27, Dr Chirakkal had expressed his resentment against the non-availability of an equipment accessory for an important surgery in his department at the medical college. The post was widely discussed in the public domain and several such inadequacies at various government hospitals in the state were highlighted by the media. The minister said a four-member expert panel was constituted to examine the doctor's action and based on its report, the DME had sought an explanation from the doctor. 'It is a routine official procedure," she said. George said the expert panel had found that Dr Chirakkal had violated service rules by going public about the issue and not approaching higher-ups in the department. The panel had also reported that part of an equipment at the Urology department was found missing and recommended a separate enquiry into the matter. Besides this, the panel also suggested that the purchasing power of superintendents of medical college hospitals, who are also Hospital Development Committee (HDC) secretaries, be increased, George said. Sharply reacting to the action against the doctor who complained about lack of facilities at the MCH, Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan said on Friday that the state is being ruled by a few people who will not shy away from doing whatever they want. 'The government is even trying to trap the doctor in a theft case now," he alleged. Dr Chirakkal told reporters that he would give a reply to the notice within seven days as directed by the DME. PTI MVG MVG ROH view comments First Published: August 01, 2025, 13:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
