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The Keralam Assembly witnessed heated exchanges on Tuesday after the opposition raised concerns over an alleged crisis in the state's healthcare sector, including medicine shortages, with Health Minister K Muraleedharan dismissing the allegations and blaming the previous government for the current situation.
The opposition moved an adjournment motion on the issue, with MLA K V Sumesh submitting notice and alleging that the state's healthcare system was on a ventilator. The debate soon escalated into a war of words between the treasury and opposition benches. Responding to the allegations, Health Minister K Muraleedharan said the issues raised in the notice did not reflect the actual situation in the Health Department. He acknowledged a shortage affecting 24 medicines but said urgent measures, including local purchases, had been initiated to address the problem. The Minister alleged that the previous government had left substantial dues unpaid to pharmaceutical companies, contributing to the current difficulties in medicine procurement. He said the procurement process for the next year had already begun and that the usual period for placing medicine procurement indents was between October and December. Muraleedharan also addressed the death of a patient following alleged medical negligence at Kottayam Medical College, stating that a preliminary inquiry had been conducted and a detailed report was expected within a week. Further action would be taken based on the report, he said. Dismissing concerns over power cuts affecting healthcare services, the Minister said no surgeries had been disrupted due to power outages and insisted that there was no emergency in the state's healthcare sector. Taking a swipe at the opposition, he said medicines were available for all other ailments, adding that the only shortage was of a remedy for the opposition's disappointment over losing power. He also accused the opposition of speaking on behalf of private interests, triggering protests and noisy scenes in the House. Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan strongly criticised the Minister's response, questioning whether it was appropriate for a minister to address such a serious issue in that manner. He also questioned the Speaker's handling of the proceedings, saying the Speaker should have commented on the manner in which the Minister responded. Vijayan said Kerala's healthcare and education sectors had earned national recognition, recalling the state's performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in ensuring the availability of ventilators and oxygen. He alleged that the present government had failed to ensure adequate staffing and medicine supplies in public hospitals. Referring to reports of medicine shortages and an audio clip purportedly featuring a Health Department official discussing the lack of medicines, he said the government needed to address the issue rather than blame its predecessor. Vijayan further alleged that seven Junior Health Officer posts were vacant in Attappady, affecting access to healthcare for pregnant women and children. He also claimed that mobile medical units previously operating in the region were no longer available and accused the government of negligence in ensuring adequate treatment. Questioning the government's explanation that the previous administration was responsible for the procurement crisis, Vijayan said the earlier government had completed the required procedures for medicine procurement, including tenders, and had issued purchase orders for 493 medicines. He attributed the difficulties to the absence of a head at the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMSCL), which is responsible for procuring and distributing medicines to government hospitals. Citing media reports about shortages of medicines and even basic medical supplies such as cotton for dressing wounds, Vijayan alleged that procurement and distribution had been disrupted. He called for an examination of whether there was a hidden agenda behind the situation, including a possible move to benefit large corporate hospital groups seeking to expand their presence in Kerala. The opposition leader also raised concerns over the alleged dismissal of more than 1,000 healthcare workers and the continued threat of job losses, arguing that a change in government should not disrupt the continuity of public services. The Speaker denied permission for the adjournment motion, following which opposition members staged a walkout from the Assembly. The debate has brought the availability of medicines, staffing in public hospitals and the functioning of the state's drug procurement system to the centre of a political confrontation in the Assembly. (ANI)
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