Doctor who made taluk hospital into a superb multi-speciality hospital gets transfer over night via Watsapp owing to political pressure and corruption
Dr Shahirsha, the Superintendent of Punalur Taluk hospital who over the past 5 years had transformed the neglected and deteriorating hospital into a superb multi-speciality hospital, has received his transfer orders to the Thiruvananthapuram general hospital overnight via a Watsapp message!
It is believed that Dr. Shahirsha is being transferred because he did ‘too good’ a job in reviving the hospital and making it exceptional and this was making life very difficult for neighbouring private hospitals. Supporters of Dr. Shahirsha and his wife Dr. Sindi like MLA Dr. T.M Thomas Issac, the DMO and DHS feel they are being subjected to harrasment and forced out. They strongly say that the Health Minister under the influence of the local Congress leader and pressure from private hospitals is acting so.
The transfer order was issued on Thursday night and a doctor from Palakkad rushed to take charge at the hospital on Friday morning. “The health minister directly made the move to transfer me,” says Dr. Shahirsha.MLA Dr. Thomas says Dr. Shahirsha’s only crimes were that he:
1. In the last 4 years made Punalur Thaluk Hospital the cleanest hospital in Kerala
2. Acheived a healthy nurse to patient ratio of 1:4
3. Upgraded all wards in the hospital
4. Setup an oxygen and sewage generator unlike any other governmentt hospital in Kerala
5. Setup -24 hr dialysis,cancer care, blood bank and pharmacy facilities
6. Ensured the hospital environment was neat and clean at all times
7. Patients could have 3 meals a day for free
8. Ensured modern OP and casualty setup at hospital
Supporters of Dr. Shahirsha have said that he turned the hospital around from a defunct one to Kerala’s pride and should be given time to finish his work and not sent away due to political pressure and selfish intentions. It is interesting to note that earlier this year the Punallur Thaluk Hospital had been blamed for a mismanaged pregnancy. The very same ruling Congress MLA involved in his current transfer along with local private hospitals ganged up to blame, Dr. Shahirsha’s wife Dr. S. Sindi the gynaecologist for negligence and the death of the child. The hospital took a stance and stated that while the mother was brought to the hospital, the child had died on the way. It was understood at that point that the allegations were because the taluk hospital was being targeted for providing excellent service and care. It is sad to see the work of a truly diligent doctor being disrespected as he’s being discouraged and removed from his post despite the work he’s done because a few political factions and influential forces were not being benefitted from it.
Image credits – Dr. Thomas Issac (MLA)
