Activists of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) hold a protest march towards the District Medical Office, carrying a person wearing the mask of Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan on a stretcher accompanied by activists wearing masks of Health Minister K. Muraleedharan following allegations of acute shortage of medicines in government hospitals, in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
The supply of all categories of medicines, including life-saving drugs, medications for treating non-communicable diseases, and antibiotics, has been streamlined in the State’s government hospitals, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has said. The Minister made the announcement after chairing a high-level meeting of the Health department to review the situation of medicine shortage in the State. He specifically sought information on drug availability in each district from the District Medical Officers.
Steps have been taken to move the entire stock of medicines procured through Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMSCL) from the district stores to the health centres. The supply of a few more medicines for cancer, heart diseases and mental disorders has to be streamlined and till then, the medical officers of the healthcare institutions will ensure the availability of these drugs through local purchase.
Factor IX availability
The Minister also gave special instructions to ensure the availability of Factor IX for haemophilia patients. KMSCL officials stated that Factor IX will be made available, as required, within two days to wherever it is currently in short supply. The Minister directed the district-level drug monitoring committees to track medicine stocks accurately in all institutions and to take necessary steps well in advance to avoid shortages. The Minister also directed that coordinated activities be taken up, in cooperation with other departments like the LSGD, so as to prevent communicable diseases such as dengue and leptospirosis. He asked the District Medical Officers to examine the possibilities of extending 24-hour specialist services to more institutions.
He also directed that the functioning of the 108 ambulance service be monitored to ensure that its service is not disrupted. The Principal Secretary (Health) Sharmila Mary Joseph, National Health Mission Mission Director Renu Raj, the Director of Health Services V. Meenakshy and the Director of Medical Education, K. V. Viswanathan were present.
Published – October 06, 2026 07:43 pm IST
