The Directorate of Medical Education (DME) termed as 'false', the statement by Dr Haris Chirakkal, Head of Department of Urology, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram on equipment shortage and how surgeries had to be called off. An RTI reply from the GMC, Thiruvananthapuram, shows that four surgeries had to be called off in the Urology department after the equipment was damaged. A show-cause notice issued to Dr Haris Chirakkal for his post on social media about equipment shortage says that he lied about the shortage of equipment and propagated false information.

In the reply furnished by the General and Purchase wing of the Medical College to RTI activist Rasheed Anappuram, it is cited that surgeries had to be cancelled after equipment were damaged and that Dr Haris had written to the authorities concerned regarding purchase of equipment needed for the surgical procedure. Accordingly, the opinion of the technical officer was sought and supply order was given to the company. Besides, a letter was also sent to the Collectorate to obtain the Administrative sanction of the District Collector who heads the Hospital Development Society (HDS). The sanction was also received for the same, the RTI document shows.

Rasheed said that he is awaiting copies of the letter sent by Dr Haris. In the show-cause notice issued by the DME based on the findings of the expert committee, it was alleged that Haris never raised the issue in any of the forums or with the Principal or superintendent. However the RTI reply shows that the letter was indeed sent to the purchase wing and it was forwarded to the District Collector. The Public Information officer said that the letter sent by Haris was not forwarded to the Health Minister  or the Director of Health services. The Collector is the chairman of the HDS and it was sent to the Collector via the HDS superintendent, the RTI reply pointed out.

Excerpts of the report of the expert committee being circulated show that there was a practice of buying equipment by pooling money from patients and that it was shameful for Kerala's health system. In his facebook post on June 27, Chirakkal openly expressed his frustration after he had to cancel the surgical procedure at the last minute due to shortage of equipment.

Haris has said that he will file a response to the show-cause notice issued by the DME.