Pinarayi Vijayan Alleges Medicine Shortage in Kerala Hospitals; Minister Denies
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan has accused the United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala of deliberately creating a shortage of medicines in government hospitals to benefit the private healthcare sector. Speaking on Saturday, Mr. Vijayan alleged that the government is systematically undermining the credibility of Kerala's public health system, pushing ordinary people towards private hospitals.
He said that state government hospitals are experiencing an "unprecedented" and severe shortage of medicines, with even life-saving drugs unavailable. "This is gross negligence on the part of the government, which is playing with the lives of ordinary people," he said. According to him, shortages include basic drugs like paracetamol and IV fluids, as well as essential medicines such as anti-rabies vaccines. The shortage of anti-rabies vaccines is particularly concerning, as rabies is endemic in Kerala and timely vaccination is critical after dog bites. Stocks of 209 categories of medicines and equipment for the current financial year have not yet reached hospitals. There are acute shortages of antibiotics, cardiac medicines, medicines for acidity, and doxycycline, used for leptospirosis prevention.
Mr. Vijayan alleged that all government health institutions, from primary health centres upwards, are facing shortages, especially of medicines needed regularly for diabetes and hypertension. He pointed to frequent changes in the leadership of the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd. (KMSCL), which is responsible for medicine distribution in public sector hospitals, as well as failures in tendering processes and delays in placing purchase orders. He accused the UDF government of turning government hospitals into mere "show pieces" to benefit private hospitals.
In response, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan held a review meeting on Saturday to assess the situation. The General Manager of KMSCL presented figures showing that essential medicines, including fever medication and antibiotics, are currently in stock. He also clarified that medicines for which purchase orders have already been placed will arrive by this week.
Minister Muraleedharan directed that procurement procedures for the next financial year begin in October itself and be completed by the end of December. The Minister set a deadline of December end for completing the entire procurement process for the next financial year, which begins in April. He also instructed that middlemen be removed from tender processes and that agencies dealing directly in imported medicines be allowed to participate in tenders. He said KMSCL should procure only those drugs that are procured by at least two state governments.
Furthermore, KMSCL must procure medicines at a price lower than that paid by the in-house drug bank at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, which currently offers the cheapest branded medicines in the state. The purchase price of medicines each year must be published on the website. The Minister said a comprehensive overhaul is under way at KMSCL to ensure people have access to quality medicines, and that its effects will become visible in the coming days.
Kerala's public health system has historically been praised for its performance, but recent reports of shortages have raised concerns. The government has denied any deliberate attempt to weaken public health institutions and has promised reforms to streamline medicine procurement and distribution. The exchange highlights the political sensitivity of healthcare in Kerala, where public hospitals serve a large segment of the population.
The opposition and the ruling coalition have clashed over health policies in the past, and the latest allegations are likely to intensify the political debate in the state. The government's move to overhaul KMSCL is seen as an attempt to address the shortcomings and ensure timely availability of medicines.
