THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister Veena George on Monday instructed that only those who cannot be treated at preliminary level hospitals should be referred to Medical colleges. However, there are no medicines available in pharmacies of government hospitals. The doctors instruct patients to buy medicines from private medical stores, but the poor can't afford them. The essential medicines for the IC unit are also being bought.

The reason for this crisis is that the Medical Services Corporation, the tender supplier for the purchase of medicines, delayed the process by months. Kerala Kaumudi had reported on May 23 that the delay in the tender would lead to a severe medicine shortage. Contrary to the norm, only pharmaceutical companies with an annual turnover of Rs 50 crore were allowed to participate in the tender. Smaller companies withdrew because of this. The big companies extended the tender by stating different conditions. The authorities invited the crisis without taking the necessary preparations.

The tender process usually starts in December, but this year it started only in July. The hospitals doesn't have medicines like IV Paracetamol, Adrenaline, Nor adrenaline, Aspirin etc. Some medicines are not in stock. It has been days since antibiotic injections and medicines