Allegation by Urology Department Head: Four- Member Committee Appointed for Probe

Thiruvananthapuram: A four -member committee has been appointed to investigate the allegation made by Dr. Haris Chirakkal, Head of the Urology Department at the Medical College Hospital, that surgeries were disrupted due to a shortage of equipment in the urology department.

The committee members are: Dr. B Padmakumar, Principal of Alappuzha Medical College; Dr. T K Jayakumar, Superintendent of Kottayam Medical College; Dr. S Gomathi, Head of the Nephrology Department at Alappuzha Medical College; and Dr. A T Rajeevan, Head of the Urology Department at Kottayam Medical College. The committee will examine the availability of equipment and the status of surgeries.

The hospital had earlier sought an explanation from the company regarding the price hike of the probe equipment used for surgeries. The equipment was previously purchased for 41,300 rupees and is now priced at 44,150 rupees. A letter was sent to the company asking whether the increase was in the MRP or due to GST.

In the last financial year, 67 lakh rupees was allocated for the purchase of medical equipment for the urology department. This included 37 lakh rupees granted by the government and 30 lakh rupees spent through the hospital development committee.

Procedures are underway to procure equipment worth 2.5 crore rupees through KIIFB (Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board). Last year, 2,898 surgeries were performed in the urology department; up to May 31, 2025, the number stands at 1,327.