Bike and public transport for commute, unlike any other high-ranking doctor; more about MCH's Dr Harris Chirakkal

Social media is all praise for Dr Harris Chirakkal, the urology department head, who showed the nerve to question the ineptness of authorities in MCH Thiruvananthapuram. Being a government employee, Dr Harris could have shown indifference to continue with his comfy work like many of his colleagues, but he didn’t. This doctor turned against the powerful authorities not for the limelight, but to stand with the patients and to end their long sufferings.

On this Doctor’s Day, Kamaleswaran native Dr. Harris Chirakkal is the worthy hero to be adulated. Dr Harris has always been an anomaly to his colleagues. It is not expected of a Urology department head of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College to reach the hospital using public transport, and sometimes a two-wheeler. Harris chose public transport or sometimes his bike rather than using his car after considering the choked-up parking spaces in the hospital. Department heads are usually given a shed for car parking. But Dr. Harris did not ask for that either. For Dr Harris, three things tower in his to-do list every day at work: examine as many patients as possible, perform surgeries and reduce the waiting time. His 28-year-long professional career track record speaks volumes about his professionalism.

Even when medical college doctors were allowed to practice privately, Dr Harris abstained. He opposed private practice in all organisational meetings. He became the head of the department in the same Thiruvananthapuram Medical College where he studied. Harris first came here to treat urological diseases and entered service in 1997.

Transfer sometimes knocked at his door, but unlike others, he welcomed them heartily. He lived in very limited conditions, cooking alone in lodges, rented houses and quarters. When his son needed an eye test certificate, Dr Harris took his son to an ophthalmologist and waited in line like other patients. He could have received the certificate with one phone call, but Dr Harris was never the type of chief doctor you encounter.

However, the urology department head often loses his cool and will explode at patients if they don’t show up for treatment on the scheduled date.

When asked, Dr Harris said he has only gratitude and, obligation to the government for studying at the expense of the public from primary school to super speciality in government institutions. Dr Harris is thus the hero on Doctor’s Day and the pride of Thiruvananthapuram.