Kerala politics: Disputes arise over medical institutes and angioplasty remarks

In Kerala, political and medical tensions have emerged following recent statements by Chief Minister VD Satheesan. Former Health Minister Veena George criticized the Chief Minister regarding the announcement of a new organ and tissue transplant institute in Kozhikode. George claimed the project was already initiated by the previous LDF government, noting that administrative approval for approximately Rs 643 crore had been granted and construction work was inaugurated in February 2026.

Separately, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has expressed concern over Chief Minister Satheesan’s call for a campaign against unnecessary angioplasty procedures. While the IMA acknowledged the intention to prevent treatments driven by commercial interests, they warned that such sweeping public statements could damage the trust between patients and doctors. The association cautioned that creating doubt about life-saving interventions might lead patients to delay or refuse essential medical treatments.