KOZHIKODE: The Government Medical College Hospital here is facing an acute shortage of drugs, especially for non-communicable diseases, for more than a month. There is a short supply of filgrastim used for treating immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), Factor VIII and Factor XI drugs for haemophilia and injections for sickle cell anaemia, which has forced patients to depend on private pharmacies. When a doctor prescribes five drugs, patients get less than two. Glimepiride and Metformin prescribed to manage diabetes, Atorvastatin for cholesterol, and Amlodipine for blood pressure were not available here for more than a month. These drugs were highest in demand.
Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL), ascribes the shortage to the influx of patients and the financial crisis faced by the health sector. “Due to the unavailability of drugs, we are telling the patients to depend on private pharmacy which charges double the subsidised price here,” an official at the KMSCL said. An employee at the pharmacy department said twice in every year, KMSC takes the stock list of medicines available and to be supplied.
But it fails to refill the stock of drugs like filgrastim and facto and also few antibiotics for allergy and other non-communicable diseases, despite repeated requests. “My daughter has been undergoing treatment for ITP for the last six months at MCH, but the drugs were made available only at the beginning,” said Rajesh Kumar, father of the seven-year-old girl. “We could hardly afford to buy drugs that cost Rs 10,000 for each course. The worst affected are the tribal people who stop the medication, making their condition worse.”
