Thiruvananthapuram: Drug shortage at government and private hospitals has put patients at the receiving end. With H1N1 cases on the rise, the hospitals are having a hard time refilling the antiviral drug for fighting H1N1. Community and primary health centres in the state are facing a shortage of medicines. However, the authorities claim that H1N1 medicines are available at Karunya pharmacies.
Indian Medical Association (IMA) state secretary Dr Sulphi N confirmed that there is a shortage of H1N1 medicine at private hospitals and clinics. "Seventy percent of the public depends on private hospitals and there is a shortage of medicine at some of the hospitals. We have taken steps to resolve the issue. We are circulating the list of pharmacies, clinics and hospitals where medicines are available to ensure timely intervention," Mr Sulphi said. He said that a lot of H1N1 cases are being reported every day.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Health Services has officially urged the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) for procuring more drugs on a war footing basis to manage the crisis. "The demand is more and we need to refill the medicine at the pharmacies to avoid a real crisis," said an official.
However, KMSCL authorities said that there is no shortage. "Even if there is a crisis we will be able to procure the medicine within 24 hours," said an official.
