Kozhikode: MP MK Raghavan began a 24-hour fast outside the Kozhikode govt medical college against the alleged govt apathy in resolving the stalemate at the hospital after distributors of medicines stopped their supply over non- payment of pending dues.
Raghavan said that even nine days, after the distributors stopped the supply of medicines, the health department was not concerned about the difficulties faced by people from six districts of Malabar.
“I wrote a letter to the chief minister and the health minister explaining the situation, but no action was taken. Thousands of poor patients from across north Kerala who visit the hospital seeking treatment are hit by this. For the last several days, patients needing surgeries, dialysis and other treatment have all been facing a crisis due to the shortage of medicines. The dues, by way of providing insurance in Rs 230 crore and Rs 90 crore, are pending for distributors, but the govt is doing nothing,” Raghavan said.
Inaugurating the protest, IUML leader Dr MK Muneer MLA said that at the Kozhikode medical college, medicines worth Rs Five lakh were needed for one month and now the dues to distributors have climbed to Rs 90 crore. The meeting convened by the health department on Saturday had decided to provide around 150 essential medicines to the medical college through Karunya.
Pharmaceutical distributors had stopped the supply of medicines to the fair price shops at the medical college from Jan 10 onwards following non-payment of the pending dues.
DCC president K Praveenkumar said if the state govt does not take steps to resolve the issue, the manner of the agitation would change.
“The district collector, who is the chairman of HDS and HDC, has not cared to visit the medical college, which is facing the crisis,” Praveenkumar said.
