KOZHIKODE: Shortage of essentials including stents used in angioplasty has hit functioning of cath lab at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (KMCH) as the Chamber of Distributors of Medical Implants and Disposables (CDMID) stopped the supply due to nonpayment of dues of more than Rs 50 crore.
A meeting of CDMID held here on Saturday which met KMCH authorities dismissed the possibility of resuming the supply as the health department failed to settle the arrears.
The supply of stents to the cardiology department stopped since June 10, which has affected the angioplasty surgeries. The cath lab used to conduct, on an average, ten angioplasty surgeries which came down to two or three in the last few days.
Doctors have already expressed their angst over the situation to the KMCH superintendent and principal. Though the representatives of distributors have discussed the issue with KMCH authorities, it failed to yield any results.
The KMCH has to pay an amount of Rs 30 crore to the distributors for supplying stents through the Karunya Benevolent Fund since 2018 June. Another Rs 16 crore also is pending for distribution of stents through the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY), and the arrears payment under the tribal fund since 2014 also is pending.
CDMID secretary Nidheesh told reporters that it would be tough to resume the supply as such a huge sum is pending.
"We have met the authorities and waiting for a positive nod", he said.
Meanwhile, M.K. Raghavan MP demanded the state government take immediate measures to ensure smooth functioning of the cath lab depended on by thousands of cardiac patients of Malabar region.
