NewKerala.com

Key Points

Thiruvananthapuram Medical College has banned faculty from public criticism after two senior doctors spoke out. Dr Mohandas faced backlash for exposing organ transplant delays while Dr Harris cited ignored complaints. The new rule requires grievances to go through official channels only. The move raises concerns about suppressing legitimate healthcare policy debates.

Key Points: Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Bans Doctors from Public Criticism

  • Directive follows Dr Mohandas' viral post on organ transplant stagnation
  • Dr Harris Chirakkal cited lack of action on official complaints
  • Grievances must now go through official channels
  • Move sparks debate on transparency vs institutional discipline
2 min read

No public criticism of govt policies or college matters: Thiruvananthapuram Medical College to doctors

Medical College Principal Dr Jabbar warns faculty against public remarks on govt policies after recent controversies involving Dr Mohandas and Dr Harris.

"Public criticism of government policies or institutional matters will not be tolerated - Dr P.K. Jabbar"

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 19

The Principal of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, Dr P.K. Jabbar, has issued a stern directive prohibiting department heads and senior faculty members from making public statements without prior approval.

The decision was formally conveyed during a meeting of department heads, following recent controversies sparked by comments made by two senior doctors, Dr Mohandas and Dr Harris Chirakkal.

According to the directive, any grievances, concerns, or criticisms must be routed through official channels and communicated to higher authorities within the medical education department.

The Principal made it clear that direct or open remarks in the media, on social media platforms, or in public forums would invite disciplinary action in the future.

The move comes after strong criticism levelled by former Head of the Nephrology Department, Dr Mohandas, who had recently lashed out at the government over the stagnation in the state’s organ transplantation programme.

He pointed out that there had been “absolutely no progress” in cadaver organ transplantation since 2017.

His criticism was accompanied by a social media post carrying photographs of two deceased former department heads, which attracted wide attention.

Although Dr Mohandas later deleted the post, the incident led to a memo being served on him.

Meanwhile, Dr Harris Chirakkal openly stated that he had repeatedly raised concerns with the authorities through official communication channels, but since no action had been taken, he was forced to go public with his views.

His statement further fuelled the debate about transparency and accountability within the medical education sector.

It is against this backdrop that the Medical College Principal has now warned all department heads against repeating such actions.

The message was categorical and added that internal complaints and suggestions are welcome, public criticism of government policies or institutional matters will not be tolerated.

The directive is seen as an attempt to maintain discipline within the prestigious institution, but it has also sparked discussions among the medical fraternity on whether restricting public expression could suppress genuine concerns about healthcare policy and patient welfare.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While I understand the need for discipline, silencing doctors who raise genuine concerns about healthcare is dangerous. The organ transplant issue affects real people's lives. Maybe the government should fix the problems instead of silencing those who point them out.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in healthcare administration, I see both sides. There should be proper channels, but when those channels fail repeatedly, professionals need some avenue to highlight critical issues affecting public health.
V
Vikram M
Typical bureaucracy! Instead of addressing the organ transplant crisis, they're busy gagging doctors. Kerala's healthcare was once a model, now we're becoming like those states where truth is suppressed. Very disappointing. 😔
M
Michael C
There's a middle ground here. Doctors should follow protocols, but the administration must also ensure those protocols actually work. If Dr. Chirakkal's official communications were ignored for years, that's a system failure that needs fixing.
A
Ananya R
As a medical student, this worries me. If senior doctors can't speak up about critical issues, what hope do junior doctors have? Healthcare transparency is non-negotiable, especially when lives are at stake.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50