Kerala Health Minister addresses public scrutiny and criticism

Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan addressed the challenges of managing the state's health department during a medical college graduation ceremony. He noted that the department frequently faces scrutiny regarding medical negligence and shortages of medicines and facilities. Muraleedharan remarked that after a decade of criticizing the department from the outside, he now understands the difficulty of facing public backlash.

He urged graduating doctors to uphold professional standards, ensure transparency, and take responsibility for their actions. He also encouraged graduates to consider working in government hospitals, noting that despite lower salaries, these institutions serve as a vital refuge for the poor.

Following these remarks, former Health Minister Veena George shared her experiences regarding the pressures of the role. In a social media post, she described facing personal attacks, cyber harassment, and physical intimidation during her tenure, characterizing the level of harassment as “too cruel” to express in words.