Thiruvananthapuram: The Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital is facing an acute shortage of doctors in its Surgical Gastroenterology Department, raising concerns about the department’s capacity to support critical surgeries in the General Surgery wing.
In a letter to college principal Dr P.K. Jabbar, Dr Ramesh Rajan, head of the Surgical Gastroenterology unit, warned that the staff crunch has left the department unable to spare doctors for complex surgeries involving conditions such as pancreatitis and liver injuries. Despite these concerns, hospital authorities have downplayed the severity of the issue.
Hospital Authorities Downplay Concerns
Speaking to TNIE, a senior hospital official acknowledged that staffing levels are “not optimal” but stressed that no patient has been denied treatment.
“We have provisions to arrange alternatives. The principal has taken steps to recruit more staff and has reported the vacancies to the PSC,”
the official said, adding that General Surgery teams seldom require assistance from Surgical Gastroenterologists.
Wider Challenges Highlighted Earlier
The current shortage adds to a series of systemic challenges that have repeatedly surfaced at the medical college. Senior doctors have previously flagged concerns over resource constraints, staff shortages, and delays in patient care.
Earlier, a major controversy erupted after senior urologist Dr Haris Chirakkal, Head of Urology, publicly highlighted a shortage of surgical equipment and months-long delays in surgeries at the institution. His detailed Facebook post — later deleted — drew widespread attention and sparked friction with the health department.
