UDF Govt Deliberately Weakening Keralam’s Public Healthcare System for Private Hospital Lobbies, Says Pinarayi Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: The UDF government is engaged in a deliberate attempt to undermine the credibility of Keralam's public healthcare system, which has been a model for the world, and benefit private hospital lobbies, Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan alleged.

Government hospitals across the state are facing an unprecedented shortage of medicines, with even life-saving drugs unavailable. Pinarayi Vijayan accused the government of showing serious negligence and administrative failure while putting the lives of ordinary people at risk.

Government hospitals are facing shortages of even paracetamol and IV fluids. Essential medicines, including anti-rabies drugs, are also reportedly unavailable. Stock of 209 types of medicines and medical equipment for the current financial year has not yet reached hospitals.

There is a severe shortage of antibiotics, medicines for heart disease and acidity, and doxycycline, which is used to prevent leptospirosis. Medicines for fever, pain and infections, as well as injections and medicines regularly used for diabetes and blood pressure, are also in short supply. From primary health centres and family health centres to district hospitals, healthcare institutions are facing shortages of medicines.

The shortage has also severely affected the functioning of local-body programmes, including Vayomithram, as well as the treatment of palliative care patients, he said.

Frequent changes at the top of the Kerala Medical Services Corporation, which is responsible for medicine distribution, after the UDF came to power, along with delays in completing re-tendering procedures, have pushed government hospitals into a crisis, he alleged. Delays in issuing purchase orders for medicines and equipment have further aggravated the situation.

Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that by frequently transferring officials and deliberately delaying medicine procurement, the UDF government was creating opportunities for private hospitals to make huge profits.

He further alleged that the Congress came to power after receiving crores of rupees in election funds from major private hospital chains and pharmaceutical giants. As a favour to the private monopolies that supported them, the government was turning public hospitals into ineffective institutions and pushing ordinary people towards private hospitals, he added.

He called for strong public protests against the state government's attempts to dismantle the public healthcare system built by Left governments and deny people their right to healthcare.