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Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 14 (IANS) Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Friday defended the criticism she faced over patients being treated on the floor at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, blaming overcrowding and shortage of beds in medical colleges.
The minister said the situation is a direct result of the huge influx of patients and stressed that no patient will be denied treatment, even if it means treating them on the floor.
According to him, medical colleges across Kerala are receiving more patients than their capacity.
“We are continuously working to improve the infrastructure. Not a single patient is sent back. There are people who leave patients behind, such people will be taken to safer centres,” he said.
Veena George stressed the need for strict compliance with the referral protocol.
“Everyone should not be sent to medical colleges. Patients should be referred only after ensuring availability of beds,” he said. He said private hospitals often transfer large numbers of patients to government medical colleges, putting pressure on resources.
The minister refused to react to senior doctor Haris Chirakkal’s sharp remarks, saying, “Ask him directly.”
His comments came as Dr Chirakkal criticized the hospital’s “primitive” treatment conditions, particularly the practice of placing patients on the floor.
Dr Chirakkal came under criticism following the recent death of heart patient Venu, who allegedly did not receive timely treatment and was made to lie on the hospital floor.
“How can anyone be treated on the ground? If this is the standard of care then what is the point of starting medical colleges across the state?” he asked.
He said the situation has forced many patients to rely on private hospitals and stressed that conditions are no better than in 1986.
Dr Chirakkal also highlighted systemic issues, including frequent transfers of doctors “just to increase the numbers”, and urged the government to urgently address the fundamental deficiencies.
His earlier revelations about the shortage of equipment in the urology department had already put the health department under pressure.
Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan has long been on the attack against Health Minister Veena George, terming her an ineffective administrator and blaming losses in the health sector.
–IANS
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