The news coming from government hospitals including medical college hospitals is not so good. The government has been unable to pay dues to pharmaceutical companies for some time citing financial constraints. Therefore, many companies have stopped the supply of medicines. The services of government hospitals are mainly sought by people from ordinary families including those belonging to weaker sections. If there is a shortage of medicine, it will affect these people the most. Drug companies have not been on good terms with the government for some time due to non-payment of dues. The supply of medicines would not have come to a complete halt had steps been taken to settle the arrears at least partially.

Not only drug companies but also many other service providers have to be paid crores of rupees in arrears. DA dues have not been paid to government employees for two years. The contractors also have to receive huge amounts in dues. Only salaries to employees are being paid accurately without delay. If the current situation continues, the supply of medicines in many government hospitals will stop altogether. The situation is more acute in hospitals in northern districts. An MP went on a hunger strike outside Kozhikode Medical College Hospital after the supply of medicines went out of order. The fast was ended with the assurance that the medicine would arrive soon. However, it is known that many of the required medicines are yet to arrive.

It is heard that not only medicines but also surgical instruments are out of stock. People who go to the pharmacy with a prescription have to return disappointed. It is a very tragic situation for the destitute patients. The health department's lack of immediate intervention in the problem of the supply of drugs to hospitals has drawn criticism. Even as the government claims that everything is normal, the experience of patients visiting the hospital is that things are not as smooth as they should be. The government allocation for the health department is decreasing every year. Similarly, the number of employees from various categories, including doctors, is also decreasing. Doctors and other staff are very tired due to excessive workload.

The shortage of doctors in the health department is creating an obstacle even for the patients who need necessary treatment. The government should intervene and find an immediate solution to the shortage of medicines in hospitals immediately. The government has to find a way to pay the drug companies what they owe. An agreement can be reached by negotiating with drug companies to settle the dues in instalments. It was done before also. Although there may be an adjustment in terms of arrears, the medicines to be given to the patients cannot be postponed. It has to be supplied. A special corporation was formed to prevent irregularities in the supply of medicines in government hospitals. However, this organization is often unable to stock drugs in each hospital.