Probe team found old nephroscope sent for repairs, not morcelloscope: Dr Haris; supplier backs claim

Thiruvananthapuram: Dr Haris Chirakkal, the embattled head of the urology department at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) here, has refuted allegations that a missing morcelloscope was found in his room. He clarified to Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association (KGMCTA) office-bearers that the equipment in question was an old nephroscope, not the missing device.

The urology department has three decade-old nephroscopes used for keyhole surgery. They could still function with repairs, but replacing them would take at least a year. Dr Haris sent all three to Capsule Global Solutions, Kochi, which originally supplied them. The company quoted ₹2 lakh for fixing it. Unable to arrange the funds, he asked for it to be returned, and kept it in a box in his room. What the inspection team mistook for a bill, he said, was actually the packing cover addressed to the HoD of Urology.

Company’s clarification
The company’s Thiruvananthapuram-based service engineer, Mithun, collected the devices but could not repair them locally, so they were sent to Kochi. Company officials later determined that the lenses had to be replaced abroad, in Taiwan or Hong Kong, at ₹2 lakh apiece. With no funds available, Dr Haris requested their return.

A delivery challan confirming the return was prepared by a company staffer, but the equipment was mistakenly labelled as “morsilloscopes” instead of “nephroscopes.” Mithun personally returned the package to the urology department.

Controversy over ‘missing’ device
MCH Principal Dr PK Jabbar had told the media that two morcellators had been received from the department on August 2 in a special package, along with a bill. However, the company clarified that no morcelloscope was involved, and that the returned items were the nephroscopes sent earlier for repair.

The controversy stems from an earlier claim by the health minister that a morcelloscope had gone missing from the urology department. But on Tuesday, it was officially confirmed that no equipment was missing, contradicting the minister’s statement.

On Friday, Dr Jabbar and MCH Superintendent Dr BS Sunilkumar informed the press that two inspections had been carried out in Dr Haris’ room. During the first, Urology acting HoD Dr Tony Thomas pointed out a small box labelled “morcelloscope.” The second inspection, on August 7, reportedly uncovered a larger box containing a bill showing a morcelloscope purchase dated August 2.

Their press conference came after Dr Haris emailed the KGMCTA, expressing concern that authorities had entered his room with the intent to tamper with evidence.