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Pinarayi Vijayan Accuses Kerala Government of Medicine Shortage Cover-Up
- •Veteran CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan claims an acute medicine shortage in Kerala government hospitals, alleging the administration is trying to cover it up.
- •Vijayan cited an audio message from the Health Department Director to DMOs and DPMs, where the Director reportedly admitted to the crisis and instructed local medicine purchases using Hospital Management Committee funds.
- •He contended that this audio message is shocking evidence of the UDF government's failure in the public health sector.
- •Vijayan criticized the Health Minister for denying the crisis and urged the government to ensure medicine supply instead of covering up the issue.
- •The allegations follow State Health Minister K Muraleedharan's claim that medicine availability is better now than during the previous LDF administration, accusing the LDF of procuring substandard medicines and destroying the public health sector.
Key Questions Answered
Pinarayi Vijayan cited an audio message from the Health Department Director sent to an official group of District Medical Officers and District Programme Managers, which admitted to an acute medicine crisis and instructed superintendents to use Hospital Management Committee funds for urgent local purchases.
The shortages were attributed to frequent leadership changes at the top of the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd, delays in re-tendering, and failures to issue timely purchase orders for necessary medicines and medical equipment.
Health Minister K Muraleedharan denied the allegations, claiming that the availability of medicine was much better than during the previous LDF administration, and accused the past government of purchasing substandard drugs and destroying public health services.
