CM Pinarayi Vijayan warns against ''twisting'' isolated incidents to tarnish Kerala's health system
Kannur (Kerala), Jul 1 (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday warned that taking isolated issues out of context could unfairly tarnish the state's hard-earned reputation for having one of India’s best public health systems.
His comments followed recent remarks by Dr Haris Chirakkal, a senior government surgeon at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, who flagged shortages of surgical equipment and delays in critical procedures.
The doctor's revelations had sparked debate on the condition of Kerala's state-run hospitals.
While Vijayan did not question the integrity of the doctor, he said such statements, when highlighted in the wrong way, could unintentionally misrepresent the larger picture.
"He is a sincere government employee, free of corruption and deeply committed to his duty. Despite this, he has now inadvertently become the reason for misrepresenting what is arguably the best healthcare system in India. It is unclear whether this was his intention. Still, this incident should serve as a lesson for all of us," Vijayan said.
The Chief Minister was delivering the concluding address at the regional-level review meeting for the districts of Kannur, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, and Wayanad, held at the Krishna Menon Memorial Government Women's College auditorium in Kannur, with the participation of ministers and senior officials.
He acknowledged that temporary shortages can happen but insisted that the state government moves quickly to resolve them.
"No one can claim that everything is perfect. Our medical colleges perform highly complex surgeries. The government ensures all necessary support for such procedures. At times, there may be shortages of certain equipment, but that is not a permanent situation. Such issues are addressed quickly, with necessary equipment procured promptly," Vijayan said.
The Chief Minister added that an official clarification had already been issued regarding the matter raised by Dr Chirakkal.
Dissatisfaction must not become a tool in the hands of those who want to show Kerala in a poor light, he added.
Vijayan said that there is a deliberate attempt to create negativity about Kerala.
He noted that some sectors are functioning well and are widely acknowledged for their good performance, but recent developments show a calculated effort to distort these realities.
Vijayan alleged that some people in society seem to have a vested interest in ensuring that good things do not continue as they are. Unfortunately, the media--which should be reporting the news--are now taking the lead in this distortion.
"Rather than presenting news, they are more interested in pushing their own views," the Chief Minister said.
Vijayan strongly defended Kerala's healthcare system, saying it enjoys wide recognition both within and outside the state.
"Our health sector has made significant progress. Compared to the past, there has been steady improvement. This didn't happen by accident--it is the result of deliberate and focused government intervention," he said.
The Chief Minister said the budget allocation for health has also been increased accordingly.
But now, he claimed, there is a coordinated effort to misrepresent the sector, particularly by focusing on medical colleges.
"In Kerala, public opinion holds that our medical colleges have grown and improved greatly. Still, efforts are being made to present a false image. We must all be aware of this," Vijayan said, in an apparent reference to the Congress protest at the Medical Colleges in Kerala on Tuesday.
There is a conscious misinterpretation and a deliberate attempt to portray things in a negative light, he said.
The controversy erupted after Dr Chirakkal posted on Facebook about the shortage of essential medical equipment, which he said had led to the postponement of surgeries.
He alleged that repeated assurances from authorities had failed to resolve the issue, leaving patients in severe pain waiting for timely treatment.
He also said he was under immense mental stress, unable to fulfil his responsibilities to patients who depend on government hospitals.
Director of Medical Education Dr Vishwanathan K later called Dr Chirakkal’s remarks "misleading and an emotional outburst".
However, Health Minister Veena George refrained from criticising Chirakkal, describing him as a "hardworking and trustworthy doctor".
She acknowledged systemic issues in the healthcare sector and assured that his concerns would be examined thoroughly.
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Parag fined 25 percent of match fees for vaping incident, BCCI exploring 'stringent action' on RR
New Delhi (PTI): Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag was on Thursday fined 25 per cent of his match fee for bringing the game into "disrepute" after being caught vaping on camera during the IPL game against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.
Parag's actions during the Royals' chase on Tuesday night drew condemnation on social media.
PTI has learned that on field umpires Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon had not reported the matter to match referee Amit Sharma right after the game. They only did that after seeing visual proof and Sharma found Parag guilty for a code of conduct breach as per the IPL guidelines.
The Level 1 offence carries 25 per cent deduction from match fees and one demerit point.
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"Riyan admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by the Match Referee, Amit Sharma," said the IPL in a statement.
"The BCCI is also exploring other options to initiate proceedings for stringent action against the erring team, its officials and players to ensure that the reputation of IPL remains intact," the statement added.
When PTI reached out to BCCI secretary Devajit Saika on possible action on Rajasthan Royals, he said: "As it is written clearly in the statement, we are exploring what action to take on the team. It is not decided yet."
The Indian government had banned e-cigarettes back in 2019, prohibiting their production, sale and distribution. As per the law, the offender faces imprisonment up to one year and/or a Rs one lakh fine for a first time offence.
"Article 2.21 of IPL Code of Conduct is intended to cover all types of conduct that bring the game into disrepute and which is not specifically and adequately covered by the specific offences set out elsewhere in this Code of Conduct, including Article 2.20," the IPL Code of Conduct states.
"By way of example, Article 2.21 may (depending upon the seriousness and context of the breach) prohibit, without limitation, the following: (a) public acts of misconduct; (b) unruly public behaviour; and (c) inappropriate comments which are detrimental to the interests of the game.
"When assessing the seriousness of the offence, the context of the particular situation, and whether it was deliberate, reckless, negligent, avoidable and/or accidental, shall be considered.
"Further, the person lodging the Report shall determine where on the range of severity the conduct lays (with the range of severity starting at conduct of a minor nature (and hence a Level 1 Offence) up to conduct of an extremely serious nature (and hence a Level 4 Offence)."
Since it is a Level 1 offence there was no need for a hearing.
Parag, who has not had the best of times with the bat this IPL, was seen inhaling an e-cigarette, also known as vaping, in the dressing room during the live broadcast of their game against Punjab Kings. Royals won the game to end Kings' unbeaten run in the tournament.
This is not the first controversy to hit the Royals this season. Earlier this month, team manager Romi Bhinder was fined Rs one lakh for breaching PMOA protocol after being found using his phone in the dugout.
IPL and BCCI officials involved in the conduct of the IPL termed it as a careless act in the age of social media and prying TV cameras.
Royals next host Delhi Capitals in Jaipur on Friday night.
