THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hours after Kerala Kaumudi reported that the shortage of medicines in government hospitals, including medical colleges, was causing distress to the poor, the health minister took action to solve the crisis. Health Minister Veena George said in the Assembly that special arrangements will be made for the procurement and distribution of medicines and the medicines which are facing a shortage, including IV paracetamol, syrups, etc, will be delivered to the hospitals by tomorrow.

Earlier on Wednesday, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan had raised the report published by Kerala Kaumudi regarding the shortage of medicines in government hospitals in the Assembly as a submission.

The Minister announced in the Assembly the measures to resolve all the flaws pointed out by 'Kerala Kaumudi' in the procurement and tendering of medicines. Medical Services Corporation has been directed to ensure the availability of medicines.

Minister's announcements

• Calendar to be immediately prepared to ensure timely procurement and distribution of medicines
• Order will be placed as soon as the drug stock drops to a certain percentage.
• The procurement of medicines for the next financial year will begin in August
• 69 crores were allocated to hospitals under the Karunya scheme
• Medicines will be delivered from hospitals with less demand to hospitals with high demand
• Deputy DMOs will be in charge in districts and RMOs in Medical Colleges.
• Nodal officers for coordination and inspection
• Additional indents will be issued in hospitals where more medicines have been used than the annual order.

More vaccines will be delivered
"The number of people getting bitten by dogs and cats is on the rise. So far this year, 1.82 lakh people have been bitten. More anti-rabies vaccines will be delivered to hospitals in need. The health, local and animal welfare departments will take action due to the increase in dog menace," the minister said.