Row over Urology department HoD’s Facebook post: expert panel recommends measures for hassle-free supply of equipment

An expert panel which probed the systemic issues raised by the Head of Department (HoD), Urology, of the Government Medical College here in a Facebook post in June has recommended measures for the hassle-free and uninterrupted supply of essential medical equipment.

At the same time, the panel concluded in its report that HoD Dr. Haris Chirackal, who kicked up a political storm with his social media post, had violated the code of conduct for government employees even though his intention was “good.” Such tendencies should be discouraged, it said. “Government employees are expected to maintain a professional demeanour, avoid conflicts of interest, and uphold the integrity of the public service,” the report said, citing the Kerala Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1960.

The four-member committee comprised senior doctors from government medical colleges in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Kollam. In a Facebook post on June 27, Dr. Chirackal had vented his frustration at having had to call off a surgical procedure at the last minute due to the unavailability of an equipment accessory.

Procurement delay

The committee observed that the entire issue stemmed from the delay in the procurement of the Pneumatic Lithoclast probe. Dr. Chirackal had told the Committee that his grievances were not addressed by the authorities despite repeated requests. “The delay can be attributed to insufficient financial delegation for the Hospital Development Society (HDS) Secretary, getting necessary administrative sanction and the recent price hike of the item,” the panel noted.

In its report, the committee called for simplified purchase procedures of costly consumables and disposables, ensuring fund availability through the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP), and streamlining the process of securing administrative sanction for the purchase of equipment.

It further suggested that the financial delegation powers of the Hospital Superintendent should be enhanced so that equipment and accessories can be purchased using Hospital Development Society funds in emergencies. It also observed that if the administrative sanctions for the procurement of equipment are made available by May instead of August every year, the purchase process can be made hassle-free.

Further, the expert panel has also recommended a departmental investigation into a Tissue Morcillator with Morcilloscope costing ₹12 lakh that was allegedly missing from the Urology department.

On July 31, the Director of Medical Education had issued a show cause notice to Dr. Chirackal on why action should not be initiated against him for violating provisions of the Government Servants Conduct Rules.