KMSCL didn’t provide any details regarding the quantity and category of expired medicines Kochi: Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) spent Rs 5,576 crore for procuring medicines in the past ten years, an RTI reply shows.However, KMSCL, which has stocked medicines worth Rs 120 crore in its various warehouses, has not taken any measure to dispose of the expired medicines since 2021. KMSCL didn’t provide any details regarding the quantity and category of expired medicines.Instead, KMSCL officials stated in the RTI that the medicines are kept at 16 warehouses across the state and the details of expired drugs have not been consolidated yet.“I will approach the appellate authority to get the details. The quantity and category of expired drugs will provide an insight into various factors including how much medicines the govt agency procured despite much demand. But KMSCL is hesitant to divulge details,” said Raju Vazhakkala, an RTI activist from Kochi who lodged the application.KMSCL, in the RTI reply, states that the agency will take steps for disposal of the expired medicines.“We have asked health department officials to submit a report on expired medicines. Once we get the report, we will be able to take action for procuring medicines by avoiding flaws in the procurement system,” health minister K Muraleedharan told TOI. “Govt has also asked the officials to take steps to procure medicines which are needed immediately,” he added.Shortage of medicines in hospitals, especially in taluk hospitals, community health centres (CHC) and primary health centres (PHC_, are causing hardships to hundreds of patients. “It is mainly the medicines to treat non-communicable diseases that we are facing shortage of. The medicines for cholesterol are unavailable at many of the CHCs and PHCs. Several patients depend on regular supply of medicines from those hospitals are facing difficulties,” a senior doctor with the directorate of health services said. “However, the shortage of medicines hasn’t reached the level of a crisis,” he said.KMSCL officials in their reply state that the corporation has an employee strength of 892. However, KMSCL hasn’t consolidated the details of employees working in different posts.
