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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US warns shipping firms they could face sanctions over paying Iranian tolls in Strait of Hormuz
Dubai (AP): The United States is warning shipping companies that they could face sanctions for making payments to Iran to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
The alert posted Friday by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control adds another layer of pressure in the standoff between the US and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
About a fifth of the world's trade in oil and natural gas typically passes through the strait at the mouth of the Persian Gulf in peacetime.
Iran effectively closed the strait to normal traffic by attacking and threatening to attack ships after the US and Israel launched a war on Feb. 28. It later began offering some ships safe passage by detouring them through alternate routes closer to its shoreline, charging fees at times for the service.
That "tollbooth” effort is the focus of the US sanctions warning.
The payment demands could include transfers not only in cash but also “digital assets, offsets, informal swaps, or other in-kind payments,” including chartibale donations and payments at Iranian embassies, OFAC said.
“OFAC is issuing this alert to warn US and non-US persons about the sanctions risks of making these payments to, or soliciting guarantees from, the Iranian regime for safe passage. These risks exist regardless of payment method,” it said.
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The US responded to Iran's closure of the strait with a naval blockade of its own on April 13, preventing any Iranian tankers from leaving and depriving Iran of oil revenue it needs to shore up its ailing economy.
The US Central Command said 45 commercial ships have been told to turn around since the blockade began.
Trump rejects Iranian proposal
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The warning came as US President Donald Trump swiftly rejected Iran's latest proposal to end the war between the countries.
“They want to make a deal, I'm not satisfied with it, so we'll see what happens,” Trump said Friday at the White House. He didn't elaborate on what he saw as its shortcomings but expressed frustration with the Iranian leadership.
“It's a very disjointed leadership,” Trump said. “They all want to make a deal, but they're all messed up.”
Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported Iran handed over its plan to mediators in Pakistan on Thursday night.
The shaky three-week ceasefire between the US and Iran appears to be holding, though both countries have traded accusations of violations. The standoff is increasingly putting pressure on the global economy, driving up prices and leading to shortages of fuel and other products tied to the oil industry.
Negotiations continued by phone after Trump called off his envoys' trip to Pakistan last week, the president said. Trump this week floated a new plan to reopen the critical passageway used by America's Gulf allies to export their oil and gas.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has briefed many of his regional counterparts on the country's initiatives to end the ear, according to his social media. He also held talks Friday with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who is in contact with the EU's Gulf partners.
China's UN envoy urges Iran to lift restrictions
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Fu Cong, the Chinese ambassdor to the United Nations, said Friday that maintaining the ceasefire is “the most urgent issue" as well as bringing together the sides to resume good faith negotiations “to make sure that the ground is laid for reopening of Hormuz.”
Foreign Minister Wang Yi “has been on the phone almost constantly” with representatives from all sides, Fu said, adding that China supports Pakistan's efforts to mediate between the parties.
Fu stressed the root cause of the tremendous suffering in Iran and neighboring countries and the growing turmoil in the global economy, especially in developing countries, “is the illegitimate war by the US and Israel.
