Conspiracy to frame whistle-blower doctor who spoke openly about systemic issues affecting patient care: VD Satheesan

Senior Congress leader and Opposition leader in the Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan on Friday alleged that a conspiracy is being hatched under the leadership of the Health Minister against Dr Harris Chirackal, Head of Urology Department at Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College, who had spoken openly about the systemic issues affecting patient care and day-to-day functioning of government medical colleges.

Speaking to media persons here, Satheesan said that a conspiracy is being hatched to crucify Dr Harris, who does not take a single rupee as bribery and whom Kerala respects.

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Satheesan said that it is becoming clearer that there is a group haunting Dr Harris. “They are trying to hunt down a person who does not take a single rupee as bribery. A person who lives for the patients is being made a suspect in the crime of theft,” he said. The Chief Minister should dissuade the Health Minister from this heinous move, Satheesan added.

The Opposition leader said the Opposition will go to any extent to protect Dr Harris. The Opposition will not allow him to suffer, Satheesan added.

“The opposition will not allow even a single speck of dust to fall on Dr Harris,” he said.

Meanwhile, a press conference convened on Friday by the Principal of Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram, PK Jabbar, and Superintendent Sunilkumar to explain the ongoing situation at the medical college only served to create more confusion and fuel the theory that Dr Harris is becoming a victim of persecution by the Kerala government.

Eyebrows were raised during Jabbar’s press conference when the hospital’s Superintendent, seated beside him, received a phone call. The Superintendent was overheard instructing Jabbar to read out the report as directed by the caller. This has fuelled suspicions of a coordinated effort to target Dr Harris.

At the press conference, Jabbar said that irregularities were discovered, including surgical equipment previously reported missing. He said the item was in a new box with a purchase bill dated August 2, and that photographs of the recovered item did not match earlier images of the missing one. However, the owner of the Kochi-based institution clarified that the document in the box was not a purchase bill for the missing device but a delivery challan for inspecting a device called a nephroscope, and that there had been a mistake in the device’s name on the paperwork.

Dr Sunil Kumar, owner of Capsule Global Solutions, a medical equipment repair company, said what was found in Dr Harris’s room was a delivery challan for inspecting and repairing a nephroscope. This dispels the allegations levelled against Dr Harris by the authorities.

Earlier in June, Dr Harris Chirakkal, Head of the Urology Department in Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, publicly criticised the authorities for failing to provide essential surgical equipment. Dr Harris took to Facebook to express his frustration over the alleged shortage of essential medical supplies in his department, stating that the situation was affecting timely and proper treatment for patients. Although the post was later deleted, Dr Harris reiterated his concerns in subsequent media interactions, standing by his claims.