Health Minister slams EPS over ambulance remarks, assures support for Pallipalayam donor

CHENNAI: State Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ma Subramanian, on Tuesday said the government would provide medical support to the woman from Pallipalayam allegedly involved in an illegal liver donation case, even as he dismissed AIADMK general secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami’s (EPS) remarks on ambulance services.

The Minister said a team headed by S Vineeth, Project Director of the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project and the Urban Health Care Project, had been appointed to investigate the illegal organ trade case. District health authorities have been instructed to assess the health condition of the donor and ensure treatment, he added.

On Palaniswami’s charge that ambulances were being routed through political campaign convoys, Subramanian said it was “baseless.” “There are 1,330 ambulances under the 108 scheme in Tamil Nadu. Their role is to respond to emergencies without delay. Allegations that they are deployed to disrupt political meetings have no basis, “ he told reporters in Saidapet after inspecting the Ungaludan Stalin scheme.

He further said Palaniswami’s public remarks against ambulance drivers and health workers amounted to targeting the health system. “Such actions do not befit a former Chief Minister, “ he added.

Government sources clarified that on Monday night, an ambulance driven by Surendar received a call from Anaicut Government Hospital at 9.46 pm to transfer a patient, Chandra (60), suffering from dehydration and diarrhoea, to Adukamparai Government Hospital. Believing a public meeting had concluded, the driver took a shorter route, leading to the incident at 10.20 pm. The patient was later transferred and admitted to Adukamparai GH at 11.35 pm.