‘We will end loot in treatment, medicine purchases’: K Muraleedharan to Kerala Kaumudi

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is working to end unhealthy practices in the healthcare sector, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has said. He said the government would take seriously the concerns and suggestions raised by Kerala Kaumudi on irregularities in treatment and medicine purchases and incorporate them into its future initiatives.

Muraleedharan spoke to Kerala Kaumudi on the steps being taken to ensure the quality and availability of medicines and to regulate private hospitals.

How will the quality of medicines purchased be ensured?

All medicines procured through the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) are currently inspected by the Drugs Control Department. Instructions have been issued to discontinue the practice of having the medicines tested in private laboratories.

Isn’t there a shortage of medicines?

There is no serious crisis. Procedures became disorganised during the final phase of the previous government. Purchase orders were not placed because of the elections. Penalties were also imposed because payments were not made to companies. Now, all institutions have been given permission to overcome shortages through local purchases. A new system will also be put in place to monitor stocks in advance and intervene when necessary.

The actual stock at hospitals, the number of patients, the rate of medicine consumption, the requirements likely to arise in the coming days and weeks, and possible delays in supply will all be assessed. Necessary medicines will be made available at government hospitals on time. Complaints will be resolved quickly, while problems in the supply system will be identified and addressed. A district-level monitoring mechanism will be introduced soon for this purpose.

There are allegations of irregularities in medicine procurement by KMSCL.

A Vigilance investigation into the alleged irregularities in medicine procurement will begin soon. The extent of the irregularities will become clear once the investigation begins.

The first Pinarayi Vijayan government introduced the Clinical Establishments Act. How appropriate is it to bring in a new law for private hospitals when that Act is already in place?

That law was not implemented. What we are bringing is a law that can actually be implemented. Our law will also include provisions to protect small hospitals.

Is it possible to regulate the fees charged by private hospitals, including the prices of medicines?

Private hospitals will not be allowed to fix charges for services, medicines and other facilities according to their own wishes. The government will fix the prices of medicines in private hospitals. At present, hospitals are in a position to decide these charges themselves. That will be changed.

Room rents are very high in many private hospitals. This will be brought down to a medium-level rate. Many private hospitals do not give prescriptions to patients and instead force them to purchase medicines from their own pharmacies. This cannot be accepted either. The government is also considering categorising private hospitals into different categories.