KANNUR: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan indirectly criticised Dr. Haris, Head of the Urology Department at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, following the doctor’s recent remarks about surgeries being stalled due to a shortage of medical equipment.

Speaking at the regional review meeting for the districts of Kannur, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, and Wayanad, the Chief Minister said:

“No one is saying the person mentioned in the report related to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College is a wrongdoer. He is someone known for his dedication, integrity, and sincerity. However, it is unfortunate that such a person has ended up portraying India’s finest healthcare system in a negative light. Whether he intended to do so or not, I do not know. But this must serve as a lesson for us.”

The Chief Minister further alleged that there is a concerted attempt to malign Kerala’s widely recognised healthcare system by focusing on medical colleges. “Both within and outside Kerala, our healthcare sector enjoys broad recognition. Still, efforts are being made to project a distorted image, despite significant increases in the health budget and considerable improvements across medical colleges,” he added.

Ministers Ramachandran Kadannappally, K. Krishnankutty, P.A. Mohammed Riyas, M.B. Rajesh, O.R. Kelu, Chief Secretary Dr. A. Jayathilak, secretaries of various departments, district collectors and others attended the meeting.

In the afternoon, a separate meeting of police officials, chaired by the Chief Minister and attended by newly appointed DGP Ravada Chandrasekhar, was also held.