Thiruvananthapuram: Differences within the health department over availability of medicines and procurement have brought the crisis at Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) into sharp focus, with health minister K Muraleedharan and principal secretary (health and family welfare) Sharmila Mary Joseph taking divergent positions on the extent of the shortage.At a high-level meeting convened by him on Tuesday, Muraleedharan flagged the shortage of 28 medicines, including those for diabetes and leptospirosis prevention, as well as aspirin and medical supplies such as cotton. He said govt hospitals had less than 10 days’ stock of cotton. The principal secretary, however, maintained that there was no shortage of medicines.The disagreement has now affected decision-making at KMSCL too. Muraleedharan directed urgent procurement of medicines in short supply and convened a meeting of the KMSCL board on Thursday to consider fresh purchases. The principal secretary is understood to have objected to holding the meeting at such short notice, maintaining that the board could meet only after a week.The developments come amid concerns over the availability of medicines at govt hospitals, with the minister maintaining that procurement should not be delayed when stocks of essential medicines are running low.Meanwhile, the govt has given KMSCL general manager Rakesh R U the additional charge of managing director, citing difficulties arising from the absence of a regular MD. The govt order said KMSCL had requested the change.
