Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 22 (PTI) Keralam Health Minister K Muraleedharan on Tuesday said medicines would be available without interruption at government hospitals, with steps taken to speed up supplies and permit local purchases in case of shortages.
Muraleedharan said companies have been asked to expedite medicine supplies and heads of institutions have been directed to make local purchases if any medicines were in short supply.
In a statement, he said delays in placing purchase orders due to the election and the ongoing war in West Asia had affected the supply of some medicines.
The Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMSCL) usually completes the procurement process in April and places purchase orders by May. However, purchase orders could not be placed in April due to the model code of conduct for Assembly elections, and the process was completed after the new government assumed office, he said.
Meanwhile, several companies that had participated in the tenders withdrew, citing difficulties in supplying medicines due to the war in West Asia, the minister said.
Of the 855 medicines on the essential medicines list, purchase orders have been placed for 664 and 530 medicines have already reached the state, he informed.
The remaining 191 items have been re-tendered, with the medicines expected to arrive in larger quantities by the end of September.
Muraleedharan said the Centre had invoked the ‘force majeure’ provision in view of the war situation and the global shortage of raw materials. This has exempted suppliers from liquidated damages and extended the minimum delivery period to 100 days, he said.
Despite the circumstances, KMSCL has asked companies to supply the medicines within 45 days, the minister said.
The supply chain department was also transferring medicines between warehouses and institutions to prevent shortages, he added. PTI LGK SA
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