The superintendents have been asked to ensure that medicines are procured at the earliest – AI image Thiruvananthapuram: Amid growing concerns over the shortage of medicines in govt hospitals across Keralam, an audio message purportedly issued by health services director Dr V Meenakshi has surfaced, directing hospital superintendents to urgently procure medicines locally to prevent the situation from worsening.In the message shared with district medical officers (DMOs) and district programme managers, DHS reportedly says hospitals should make purchases using funds available with hospital management committees (HMCs), wherever necessary. The superintendents have been asked to ensure that medicines are procured at the earliest, with the warning that the situation could otherwise turn problematic.The audio also reportedly contains instructions to DMOs to ensure that hospital superintendents do not share information about the medicine shortage with the media. DMOs have allegedly been directed not to disclose details with the media of which medicines are available, which are in short supply and which medicines are being procured through local purchases.The message comes amid allegations from the opposition that medicine shortages have affected govt hospitals, with govt maintaining that steps are being taken to address supply-related issues.Meanwhile, leader of the opposition Pinarayi Vijayan said the audio message of DHS has “literally vindicated” the opposition’s allegations about the acute shortage of medicines in govt hospitals. He alleged that the message was shocking evidence of the crisis into which the UDF govt had pushed the state’s public healthcare system.He said the instructions issued by DHS in an official group of DMOs and DPMs amounted to an open admission that hospitals were facing a severe shortage of medicines. Patients have already complained about the non-availability of essential medicines, and the media has reported the shortages. The issue has now come to the attention of the head of the health department as well, Vijayan said.However, instead of taking urgent steps to ensure the supply of medicines, govt was denying the problem, he said. He also criticised the health minister for rejecting the reports of shortages and accused govt of “turning a blind eye” to the crisis rather than taking immediate measures to restore medicine supplies.
