Opposition Raises Keralam’s Health Crisis in Assembly, Says UDF Government Has Put Sector on Ventilator

Thiruvananthapuram: The Opposition moved an adjournment motion in the Assembly, highlighting the crisis in Keralam’s health sector, once a source of pride for the state before the world. Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan said the current condition of the health sector is deeply shameful.

“Keralam’s health sector is a beacon of light for the country. The only thing that needs to be done is to ensure that this light is not extinguished. There is no need to go looking for another magic lamp. The problem here is incompetence,” he said. Pregnant women and children were being denied treatment, and government hospitals were running out of medicines, he added.

K V Sumesh, MLA, had submitted the notice for the adjournment motion, citing the shortage of medicines and other problems in the health sector. He said the state’s health sector was on a ventilator.

Meanwhile, more than 20 cases of medical errors and negligence were reported in the state last month alone under the UDF government. Young women died during surgeries at Pariyaram Medical College and Kottayam Medical College. In Alappuzha, a lens pierced a patient’s eye during cataract surgery.

A newborn died during surgery at Punalur Taluk Hospital, while a foetus died after treatment was delayed at Peroorkada in Thiruvananthapuram. In Adimali, a young man died after treatment was delayed due to the lack of an ambulance.