Kochi, July 7

Former Kerala Assembly Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan received medical treatment at the Aster Medcity, a private hospital in Kochi, with the state exchequer covering the cost. The total expense amounted to ₹18 lakh, sanctioned during the second term of the Pinarayi Vijayan government.

What makes the case controversial is that there is no official provision to grant medical advances to former MLAs. In Sreeramakrishnan’s case, a special exemption was made. The decision to release ₹18 lakh as a medical advance was taken in the Cabinet meeting held on October 6, 2021.

This development has sparked criticism, particularly because Kerala has long projected its public healthcare system as the best in the country—branding it “Arogyakeralam, Number One.” However, even high-ranking leaders like the Chief Minister and ministers routinely choose private hospitals or even foreign medical facilities for treatment. Former Speaker Sreeramakrishnan, too, opted for private healthcare over government hospitals, raising questions about the trust these leaders place in the public healthcare system they endorse.

Critics argue that this case exposes a double standard: while the government urges ordinary citizens to rely on public hospitals, political leaders often bypass them, choosing expensive private treatment with taxpayer money.