Latest news with #ThiruvananthapuramMedicalCollege
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Colleagues tried to frame me: Dr Haris Chirackal
T'puram/Thrissur: Dr Haris Chirackal, head of the urology department at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, had recently raised concerns about the lack of medical equipment in his department. On Monday, he expressed shock over how some of his colleagues allegedly turned against him. In a WhatsApp message shared in Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association group, Haris said some colleagues and former batchmates tried to trap and betray him. He repeated the allegation when speaking to the media. "Some pushed me to the wall and nudged me towards death. Let time forgive them," Haris wrote. While speaking to reporters later, Haris said those who tried to pull him down were people he had worked with for over 30 years. "I never expected them to betray me. The eagerness and theatrics behind trying to get a friend and colleague arrested and jailed deserve to be recorded in this college's history. Hippocratic oath…" he said. Haris said the news conference held by the college principal and superintendent, which suggested possible suspicion over the alleged disappearance—and sudden return—of medical equipment from the urology department, came as a shock. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The 20 Most Beautiful Female Celebrities in the World Trips-Shop Undo "I was told that the missing equipment had been recovered and there was no issue. Then came a twist. Allegations were raised without even asking me for an explanation. I could have clarified everything if they had simply asked," he said. After efforts to damage Haris's reputation failed, the acting director of medical education is understood to have submitted a report to the govt clearing Haris of wrongdoing. The report confirmed that some equipment under his care had gone missing but did not hold him responsible. The director later admitted he had attempted to stage-manage the press conference held by the principal and superintendent. Haris said he received full support from his peers and the public after he spoke out. "Medical faculty backed me 100%. Patients and students stood by me. But some tried to send a colleague to prison for a few silver coins. Let time forgive them," he said. Meanwhile in Thrissur, opposition leader V D Satheesan said it was unclear whether health minister Veena George had only temporarily withdrawn from the move to target Dr Haris. Speaking to the media, Satheesan alleged that the plan to make Dr Haris a scapegoat was led by the minister herself and orchestrated from her office. "Though the minister has backed off for now following a setback, it is not certain whether her obstinacy will drive her to revive the move later," he said. He also claimed that the minister had changed her stance four times during the controversy, making it unclear if she might shift again. "The opposition will stand by Dr Haris and defend him against any future attacks," he added. Responding to questions about recent attacks on Christians, Satheesan said recent incidents suggest that certain groups are creating a situation where Christian clergy are unable to move freely in traditional attire in some parts of the country. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
India Today
11 hours ago
- Health
- India Today
Why Kerala govt's handling of ‘whistleblower' Dr Haris Chirackal raises questions
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 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 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 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 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 Chirackal came forward to identify all the equipment in the department in the presence of authorities. Rounds of claims and counter-claims 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 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 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 to India Today Magazine- Ends
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Kerala Government Medical College Teachers' Association extends support to Dr Haris
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Marking a new development on the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College issue, the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers' Association (KGMCTA) has extended its support to Dr Haris Chirakkal, who was kept under suspicion for missing equipment. 'The inspection should have been done in the presence of Dr Haris,' KGMCTA state president Dr Rosnara Begum said at a press meet on Saturday. She said they have expressed their condemnation of this move to the college authorities. Dr Begum said the association has sought a meeting with Health Minister Veena George on the issue, which will be held after the minister returns on Wednesday. 'We have demanded that Dr Haris should also be present at the meeting, to which her office responded that the final call will be taken after decisions,' she said. However, Dr Haris responded that he does not fear any inquiry regarding the missing equipment. 'The minister is a close person, and she was misled about the issue. I tried to point out some systemic flaws, and I don't want to blame the government for this,' he said. The doctor also said the issues he mentioned have been largely resolved, and the ministry-level officers have promised that they will take care of the rest. The row began when Dr Haris wrote about the lack of medical equipment in the urology department on Facebook. On Friday, MCH principal and superintendent said a new purchase bill for an equipment reported missing was discovered from the room of Dr Haris.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
MCH officials level fresh charges against Dr Haris
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A fresh attempt to undermine Dr Haris Chirackal's credibility has emerged, with medical college authorities levelling new allegations based on questionable inspections of the urology department head's office while he was on leave. Thiruvananthapuram Medical College principal Dr P K Jabbar claimed to have uncovered a new purchase bill for equipment that had previously been reported missing from the urology department. The principal suggested that the equipment had been purchased recently after a probe committee had identified it as missing. Dr Haris countered these findings, clarifying that the newly discovered box contained two nephroscopes, not the moscilliscope flagged by the committee. A Kochi-based medical devices company had been consulted for repairs two months ago. The service engineer returned the equipment, as it was too costly to repair, along with a delivery challan dated August 2. According to Dr Haris, the principal mistakenly identified this delivery challan as a 'bill'. The situation was further complicated by the fact that the company's engineer had incorrectly labelled the returned nephroscopes as a 'moscilliscope' on the challan. Dr Haris emphasised that the moscilliscope was never lost and expressed concerns about his office being locked with a different lock during his absence. 'I was called by someone in a top position in the department to settle the issue and make compromises. But the press meet came soon after that,' Dr Haris said. The moscilliscope is used for prostate surgery, while a nephroscope is used for treating kidney stones and detecting tumours. The press meet was held on Friday even as Dr Haris has raised concerns about attempts to frame him. Both Dr Jabbar and superintendent Dr Sunil Kumar, who briefed the media, appeared to be receiving instructions from higher authorities over the phone, giving the impression that the entire situation was orchestrated. Dr Kumar openly acknowledged the pressure he faced amid the controversy.
New Indian Express
26-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
SOS from the fringes
Bonacaud, a remote forest-fringed settlement in the state capital, is grappling with healthcare challenges due to the absence of medical facilities. Located on the edge of the Western Ghats, deep within the Vithura panchayat in Nedumangad, the area is vulnerable to human-wildlife conflicts, with wild elephants and bears often sighted. The nearest government hospital is over 20km away, leaving the ageing former tea estate workers living here without access to timely medical care. In emergencies, help often arrives only after a minimum delay of two hours. This delay could be fatal, say the residents. Selvaraj T, 62, a resident of the estate, had a near-death experience after a snakebite a few months ago. 'I thought I wouldn't survive. Another person was bitten earlier, and the only ambulance available took him first,' he says. 'I had to wait for four hours before I was picked up.' He was first taken to Vithura taluk hospital, from where he was referred to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. He spent three days in the ICU and incurred an expense of Rs 30,000. Selvaraj is among the 180 families, mostly elderly, who reside at the estate. The residents have submitted a representation to the district collector and the Vithura panchayat, demanding a health sub-centre or a primary health centre in the area. Once a flourishing British-era plantation known as Bonaccord, Bonacaud was a hub of activity and employment for hundreds of workers, many of whom had migrated from Tamil Nadu. Established in the 19th century, the estate remained a major tea producer until its decline in the late 20th century, culminating in the factory's closure in 2000.
