Shortage of drugs to treat NCDs in govt. hospitals in Keralam
Government hospitals in Kerala are facing a shortage of essential drugs for non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes. The supply chain disruption is attributed to the failure of the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited to release second-quarter drug supplies.
Why it matters
It highlights critical gaps in public health infrastructure and the potential impact on patients requiring routine medication.
Hospitals across the State are up against a shortage of drugs for treating non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Several commonly prescribed drugs for blood sugar management (metformin), hypertension (telmasartan), and cholesterol (atorvastatin) are in short supply in hospitals, even as authorities have assured that these will be back in stock within a week.
“It is not as though we are running short on all drugs. But NCD drugs are medicines that people should be taking without fail as a matter of routine and disruptions in its supply can be worrying. We anticipated this shortage last month and moved fast to make local purchases so our patients do not miss the medication,” the medical officer at a family health centre in Thiruvananthapuram said.
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