The crisis arising from the unavailability of surgical equipment in government hospitals in the state is worsening day by day. Supply companies continue their strike, insisting they'll only provide surgical instruments if the government urgently pays at least a portion of the dues. Currently, 143 crores is owed to 30 companies from 19 important government hospitals, including medical colleges. Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital alone has arrears of 49.17 crores. The health department held discussions with distribution company representatives recently to resolve the crisis but without success.

Currently, all government hospitals only have supplies for two weeks of surgeries. After that, even emergency heart surgeries may need to be postponed. While arrears are not uncommon in government systems, they create inflexibility. The question from the company's side about the limit to such arrears is fair. Manufacturing companies supply surgical supplies to distribution agencies only when some dues are paid. The arrears from October 2022 were mentioned earlier, with the Chamber of Distributors for Medical Implants and Disposables demanding payment up to December last year. Despite the health department's promise to review the matter next week, the organization decided to continue the strike.

It's not surprising that many other government departments are cautious about payments, given the fate of dues to various companies, suppliers and contractors. However, this isn't an opportunity for either the government or distribution companies to show off. Many surgeries, including emergency heart surgeries, cannot be postponed. For instance, fifteen angioplasties are performed daily in Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital alone, totaling over four hundred per month. Stocks of artificial valves and pacemakers are limited, not to mention stents and balloons required for angioplasty. Failure to resolve the crisis this week by clearing suppliers' dues will lead to an unimaginable situation.

Major surgeries, including heart surgeries, are expensive in private hospitals. Common and middle-class people who can't afford them rely on government hospitals. The delay in resolving the dues issue and the supplier strike forces patients' relatives to seek expensive treatment in private hospitals. Unfortunately, many private hospitals take advantage of this desperation.

It's alarming that allegations suggest the government's delay in addressing the crisis might be to favour the private hospital lobby. Emergency decisions should not wait until unfortunate situations such as patient deaths due to postponed surgeries. Experience shows that government departments often adopt a lax attitude until emergencies arise. Delays in providing surgical instruments are unacceptable as they directly impact people's lives and health. The focus should be on finding the funds to settle arrears and avert the crisis.