Surgeries in hospitals may stop in April: Institutions to stop supply of surgical equipments; dues must be paid

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Warning that the supply of surgical instruments will be stopped from April if the 143 crore dues to institutions that supply surgical instruments to medical colleges and hospitals in the state are not disbursed immediately. The move is to partially stop the supply if no decision is reached in the discussion to be held by the institutions with the hospital superintendents tomorrow. With that, surgeries will be stopped in hospitals. Patients will suffer if surgery is stopped in hospitals suffering from drug shortages.

Cardiac surgery can be affected if the delivery of stents is interrupted. There will also be a shortage of equipment such as pacemakers, balloons, etc. required for the cath lab. The dues from December 2022 to last February are due. Thiruvananthapuram Medical College alone has Rs 50 crore dues. The Chamber of Distributors, the distributor association of surgical institutions, has written to the hospital superintendent, indicating that if the dues are not settled by the 31st, the supply will be stopped.

Cardiac surgeries were halted for a week last August after institutions stopped providing surgical equipment to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College due to arrears. The problem was solved by paying 6 crores which was the due of two months.

Dues to be paid

(Amount in Crores).

Thiruvananthapuram Medical College................... 50

Kottayam Medical College...................................... 17.55

Kozhikode Medical College.....................................23.14

Ernakulam General Hospital...... .............................10.97

Kozhikode General Hospital..................................... 3.21