Kerala government rejects allegations of shortage of medicines in hospitals

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The allegations

Jacob cited various news reports alleging a shortage of medicines in several government hospitals across the state. He also alleged that government hospitals were referring patients to outside laboratories and pharmacies, and sought a reply from the government.

George said that Jacob’s statement was generalised and misleading, and sought to withdraw it. She claimed, in the Assembly, that the state government had distributed medicines worth ₹554 crore in the current financial year till January.

In an apparent reference to the situation of the government hospitals in 2015-16, when the UDF was in power, she said that the total expenditure for distributing medicines through government hospitals was ₹256 crore.

“There is a considerable increase in the cost of medicines which are distributed. This is due to an increase in the number of patients at government hospitals because of the improved quality of treatment and medicines,” she noted.

George further said that the government has ensured that the medicines listed under the essential drug list are stocked in all hospitals. “The officials hold regular weekly meetings to evaluate the stock of medicines at the hospitals and take necessary steps to ensure the same,” she added.

KMSCL acts as the central procurement agency for all essential drugs and equipment for all public healthcare institutions.

Also Read: UDF cites CAG report on supply of expired medicines

‘Expired medicines supplied’

On 24 October last year, the Opposition had raised corruption allegations against the state Health Department and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with procuring medicines by the Medical Services Corporation.

Addressing the media in Kochi, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly VD Satheesan, citing a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, alleged that certain medicines were procured without examining their quality and 26 hospitals were given medicines which were past their expiry date.

The Congress leader alleged that medicines past their expiry date were being distributed to the public through the Medical Services Corporation.

“Expired medicines were given to 26 hospitals. Meanwhile, 483 hospitals were given the medicines which were kept aside from distribution due to lack of quality,” he charged.

He also alleged that pharmaceutical companies were selling medicines nearing the expiry date to the government at a much cheaper price than the market rate.

“The Medical Services Corporation is purchasing medicines nearing expiry date and giving them to the common man in the state. Once the medicine is past the expiry date, its molecular combination changes and can affect the health of people,” the Congress leader alleged.

He alleged that most of these purchases were approved by the Chief Minister or the Health Minister.

Satheesan also claimed there were no quality checks on the medicines and sought an investigation into the issue by an independent agency.

(With PTI inputs)