Public welfare is top priority in health sector: Chief Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that strict action will be taken against those responsible for lapses in the public health sector. He stated that public welfare remains the top priority in the healthcare system and that there will be no compromise on this. He was speaking while inaugurating various development projects in the Nedumangad constituency.

“Certain complaints have been raised about the functioning of the Nedumangad District Hospital. Necessary action will be taken to address them,” the Chief Minister said.

"The state’s health sector has seen major improvements over the past ten years. Before 2016, many sectors, including healthcare, were in a weak condition. Government hospitals have now become centres capable of treating modern diseases. The COVID period proved the strength of the public health system, as treatment was made accessible to all. Hospitals across regions have become more people-friendly. Kerala holds a proud position in terms of low neonatal mortality," he added.

Ministers G R Anil and V Sivankutty, Nedumangad Municipal Chairman R Jayadevan, Fire and Rescue Director General Nitin Agarwal, Health Services Director Dr. K J Reena, RDO K P Jayakumar, Vice Chairperson Lakshmi Suraj, Block President R Vaijukumar, Standing Committee Chairmen S S Biju, C Sabu, CPM Area Secretary K P Pramod, CPI Mandalam Secretary Paattathil Shareef and others attended the function.

Meanwhile, CPM State Secretary M V Govindan said that the incident in which an artery forceps was reportedly left inside a patient’s abdomen during surgery at Alappuzha Government Medical College was an isolated case. He said such incidents should not happen and stressed that all departments must remain vigilant to prevent them from recurring. He also noted that lakhs of surgeries are conducted in the state and that one or two incidents cannot be used to label the entire health sector as a failure.