Kerala Congress (M) Protests Against Medicine Shortage in State

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Congress (M) staged a protest at the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) headquarters over the shortage of medicines in the state.

With even essential medicines unavailable at several hospitals, patients are being forced to visit private medical stores with prescriptions marked by doctors.

Medicines for lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, as well as medicines for chemotherapy and epilepsy, are unavailable at several government hospitals. Shortages of basic medicines such as paracetamol and IV fluids have also been reported at some hospitals.

The supply of nutritional medicines for children and pregnant women has also been disrupted. The distribution of vitamin A drops given to children aged between 10 months and five years has remained suspended for four months.

Iron and calcium tablets prescribed for pregnant women are also unavailable.