She also highlighted serious deficiencies in Kerala’s healthcare infrastructure, citing Dr Harris of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, who was allegedly compelled to reveal shortages of basic surgical tools publicly.

“Surgeries are postponed indefinitely. Operation theatres remain idle due to a lack of maintenance and supplies,” she alleged, further claiming that doctors’ concerns were being ignored repeatedly, leaving patients to buy surgical materials out of their own pockets.

Making a blistering attack on the CPI(M) government in Kerala, she charged, “This is not an administrative or system error. This is complete misgovernance.”

Continuing amid loud protests from CPI(M) members, she also referred to the tragic building collapse at Kottayam Medical College, which claimed one life, describing it as “a painful symbol of the collapse of the healthcare system” under the Left Democratic Front government.

However, when she moved to name Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chair intervened. She urged the central government to instruct the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation to conduct a comprehensive probe into Kerala’s drugs control department “to restore transparency and ensure the safety and quality of medicines across the state.”

Hisham’s remarks drew an immediate rebuttal from CPI(M) MP John Brittas, who raised a point of order under Rule 258. “No member can mislead the House. All spurious medicines were produced elsewhere and brought to Kerala,” Brittas said, crediting the state government for its efficiency in detecting counterfeit drugs.

He objected to what he called “nasty aspersions” cast on the Chief Minister and demanded that those comments be expunged from the record. “Please delete that,” he urged the Chair. In response, the Rajya Sabha Chair assured the House that the matter would be examined.