Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Institute of Drug Studies (KIDS), which was launched in April with much fanfare for creating awareness about medicines, studying the impact of free generic medicines, developing quality control systems and storage facilities in hospitals, is reportedly being starved of funds by the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL).
Sources said KIDS had engaged research scholars for three studies. But owing to shortage of funds, they have not been paid remuneration for their work which comes to about Rs 85,000. Research activities have come to a standstill with the authorities failing to renew their contract or bring in a new batch.
KIDS, which is functioning out of State Pharmacy Council building, is facing the prospects of being thrown out of the office space for non-payment of rent. Since the last four months, the authorities have not paid monthly rent of Rs 10,000. Even the three workshops conducted over the past eight months were with loans worth nearly Rs 70,000 taken from outside sources.
Though the government had sanctioned Rs 5 lakh as initial capital, the funds were utilised for setting up the office and other infrastructure facilities. “We empanelled 480 post-graduate students for conducting various research activities connected with the drug sector. But with no funds coming forth, the activities of the institute are in jeopardy,’’ said KIDS Director K.G. Revikumar, who is holding the position without taking salary.
A research conducted by KIDS had found that the number of smallscale pharma units had come down from 44 to just three over the past decade. It blamed the KMSCL’s unscientific procurement and supply policy for the collapse of smallscale pharma sector.
