The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Hospitals yet to get medicines from KMSCL

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Friday, May 09, 2008
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Kerala - Kochi

Hospitals yet to get medicines from KMSCL

Shyama Rajagopal

KOCHI: Supply of medicines in government hospitals continues to be stalled as the newly set up Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) has not yet started any supply even after a month of the company coming into existence.

On paper, the company came by on April 1 to replace the earlier Central Purchase Committee that used to supply medicines to all government hospitals. All the hospitals, which depend on direct supply by the Corporation, have been going without any medicines for the last one month. Earlier, there was a system of local purchase by these institutions after getting a certificate of non-availability of medicine from the District Medical Store.

With these stores stopping function, there is no government procedure to provide a fillip for supply of medicines.

The Ernakulam General Hospital, which comes under direct supply by the government, needs medicines worth Rs. 10 lakh a month to meet the basic requirements. During 2007 calendar year, the hospital had bought medicines locally worth Rs. 1.20 crore, besides the limited supply of medicines through the CPC.

But, now there is a total vacuum as far as medicine supply is concerned. The situation in the hospital has worsened with no supply of even cotton, gloves or bandages. The hospital is unable to go for local purchase too.

All the taluk-level hospitals, which are under the local body, are able to procure emergency medicines through a local body sanction.

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