T’puram: State’s medicine shortage has begun to ease, with the first consignments of drugs procured through fresh tenders reaching Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) warehouses. The corporation said the remaining supplies are expected to arrive by Oct 15.Stocks of seven medicines, including drugs used to treat heart ailments and hypertension, have started reaching the warehouses. The first batches of antiobiotic doxycycline have arrived, while medicines for diabetes and filariasis have also been received. Supplies of Vitamin A medicine administered to children are expected to reach the warehouses on Monday, KMSCL officials said.Medicines including aspirin are also expected to arrive shortly. Officials said around 25% of the medicines covered under the latest tender orders would be supplied in the first phase, with the entire quantity expected to be delivered by Oct 15.Health minister K Muraleedharan said there was no severe shortage of medicines in govt hospitals and termed reports suggesting otherwise unfortunate. He said shortages of certain medicines were being addressed through emergency procurement.The minister said the supply disruption was partly caused by companies withdrawing from the market in the wake of the West Asia conflict. Medicines in short supply were being procured through ready-purchase arrangements to ensure uninterrupted treatment, he said.The minister also said companies found to have supplied poor-quality medicines had been excluded from procurement.Muraleedharan alleged that certain companies were behind reports highlighting the shortage in govt hospitals and accused them of attempting to project state’s public healthcare system in a negative light. “There may be shortcomings, but govt will not succumb to such a campaign,” he said. .
