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CM Satheesan Blames Previous Government Lapses for Medicine Shortage in Keralam
- •Chief Minister V D Satheesan stated that the current medicine shortage in Keralam is a result of procurement-related lapses by the previous government.
- •Satheesan explained that hospital medicine supply depends on idents submitted by district medical officers in the preceding year.
- •The government established an alternate mechanism to transfer 28 affected medicines from surplus locations to deficit areas.
- •Officials assured that emergency needs are being met through local purchases, ensuring that only a few specific medicines faced shortages.
Key Questions Answered
Chief Minister V D Satheesan stated that the medicine shortage was not caused by the current administration but resulted from procurement-related lapses and improper indent processes by the previous government during the previous year.
The government devised an alternate mechanism to shift the affected medicines from locations with large stock to those experiencing a shortage. Additionally, medicines unavailable locally were ordered through local purchases for emergencies.
Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that government hospitals faced an acute shortage of essential medicines and medical equipment, accusing the UDF government of weakening public healthcare to benefit private hospitals. He also claimed that an audio message from the Health Department Director confirmed the severe crisis.