THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister Veena George has dismissed the CAG report, which alleges widespread irregularities in the Kerala Medical Services Corporation's dealings. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, the minister said that expired medicines had not been distributed to government hospitals and that all necessary measures were taken during the COVID-19 pandemic to save lives.
The minister emphasized that Kerala successfully overcame the pandemic twice. "No one has died of suffocation in Kerala during the Covid period. No one lost their life because of the lack of ventilators. No bodies were seen floating in rivers in Kerala," she said.
"Bodies were cremated using PPE kits during the pandemic. Even people from foreign countries came to Kerala for treatment during the COVID period. The Leader of the Opposition is misleading the assembly and the public through his remarks. Kerala is the state that provides the most free healthcare in the country, with central assistance accounting for less than 9% of healthcare funding," she added.
The minister also clarified that medicines are procured after assuring the quality, and only drugs approved by the Central Drugs Controller are allowed in Kerala.