Thiruvananthapuram, 13 Oct (H.S.):The Opposition walked out of the Kerala Assembly after a heated exchange over medicine shortages, accusing Health Minister K. Muraleedharan of trivialising problems in government hospitals.

Responding to an adjournment motion notice moved by K.V. Sumesh, the minister denied a healthcare crisis and accused the Opposition of exaggerating the situation. Sumesh alleged that the state’s health sector was “on a ventilator”, citing medicine shortages and media reports.

Muraleedharan attributed the supply disruptions to the failure to issue purchase orders last March, citing the election model code of conduct, and substantial payments owed to pharmaceutical companies during the previous Left government’s tenure.

He acknowledged supply difficulties involving 24 medicines but said the government had addressed them through local purchases and redistribution from hospitals holding surplus stocks. There was no shortage, he maintained.

The minister said a permanent procurement mechanism was being established. Steps were under way to purchase quality branded generic medicines from next year through medical services corporations in other states, eliminating intermediaries.

Sumesh accused the minister of treating the issue casually and repeatedly blaming the previous administration. He questioned why voters had elected a new government if it continued attributing problems to its predecessor.

The Opposition also alleged politically motivated transfers, urged the minister to understand his department’s problems and sought the Chief Minister’s intervention.

Tensions escalated when Muraleedharan remarked that only the “illness of losing power” had no medicine and accused Opposition members of speaking for agents.

Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the minister’s response and questioned the Speaker’s handling of the exchange. He said the Chair should have commented on the minister’s language.

Vijayan challenged the distinction between reduced availability and shortages, asking whether they amounted to the same problem. He also questioned whether medicine shortages involved deals with private hospitals, before the Opposition staged its walkout.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman