Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan said the medicine shortage in government hospitals has been almost completely resolved, while confirming that a haemophilia medicine arrived in the state on Wednesday. His statement came amid protests and allegations of medical negligence linked to hospital services.
Speaking to reporters in Palakkad on Thursday, Muraleedharan said the initial reason cited for the protests was the non-availability of medicines. He alleged that claims of medical negligence were raised after medicines began arriving at hospitals.
“Now, when medicines started arriving, they claimed medical negligence,” he said. The minister added that an investigation into the alleged negligence found that the person at the centre of the claim had not been admitted to the hospital.
The minister’s remarks place the immediate dispute within two connected issues in the public hospital system: the availability of essential medicines and allegations concerning the delivery of care. While he said the shortage had been nearly resolved, he also noted that one haemophilia medicine was still unavailable across the country.
“Medicine for haemophilia arrived in Keralam yesterday. Another medicine for haemophilia is not available in the country now,” Muraleedharan said. The statement did not provide details on the quantity received, the hospitals supplied or the expected timeline for the unavailable medicine to return to the market.
Haemophilia patients depend on specific medicines to manage a condition that can cause prolonged bleeding. The minister’s comments therefore point to the operational importance of procurement and distribution in government hospitals, particularly when a medicine is not available nationally. The statement, however, did not specify whether the newly arrived stock would meet current demand across Kerala.
Muraleedharan also referred to protests in Kannur and denied removing any doctor from Pariyaram Medical College since taking charge. He said doctors and staff appointed during the previous Pinarayi Vijayan government continued to work at the medical college and were performing their duties well.
The minister said the protests were taking place ahead of the Assembly session and that an adjournment motion was likely to be moved in the House. He said he had the necessary details and evidence ready to respond when the issue is raised.
The minister’s statement is the latest official account of the medicine shortage and the allegations surrounding hospital care. It confirms the arrival of at least one haemophilia medicine, while also acknowledging that another remains unavailable in the country. The next formal examination of the issue is expected during the Assembly session, where Muraleedharan said he would present the government’s response.
