Kerala Medical Services Corporation (KMCL) procurement fraud was refuted by Kerala Health Minister Veena George. She asserted that neither KMCL nor government hospitals gave expired drugs to patients or the public…
Kerala Health Minister Veena George dismissed the opposition Congress’ claims of Medical Services Corporation medicine procurement scam on Wednesday. The minister further stated that neither KMCL nor government hospitals were dispensing expired medications.
On Tuesday, Assembly Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan cited a CAG report and accused 26 hospitals of receiving expired drugs without quality checks.
George denied the claim and said CAG had given a draft report to the government for comment.
She said the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) performed a performance audit and requested a government response.
The ministry stated the health services performance audit covered 2016-17 to 2021-22.
“It is not a final finding or report,” George told reporters.
After receiving the CAG report, the Principal Secretary, Health, referred it to the Kerala Medical Services Corporation and Directorate of Health Services for comments, the minister said.
The minister found it “probable” that hospitals received outdated drugs in the report.
“However, neither KMCL nor the government hospitals are giving expired medicines to the patients,” said.
George added that the Leader of the Opposition should not have made such remarks since most people need government hospitals for treatment and medicine.
“It was improper for LoP to make such claims because it would frighten people. “He didn’t act like an opposition leader,” she remarked.
The minister further said that the prior UDF government acquired large amounts of substandard, short-lived drugs and stored them in warehouses across the state instead of destroying them.
Satheesan said that the state Health Minister’s claims were “highly irresponsible” and that she need not educate him how to make allegations.
“When opposition makes claims, we need straight responses, not how to make them.
“The opposition has filed a complaint before the Lok Ayukta on the loot in procuring medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic and also pointed out the same in writing in the state Assembly,” the LoP added, rebuking George.
Satheesan said the CAG’s preliminary findings showed that 26 hospitals received expired medicines, 483 hospitals received low-quality medicines, and 148 hospitals received drugs with stop memos.
Should we not doubt it? He replied we give our kids these drugs.
Satheesan responded to the minister’s claim that UDF procured short-lived drugs by saying that it has been seven years since UDF lost power and that KMCL has disposal standards for such medicines.
“Medicines can be returned to manufacturers for a refund and fine. He said they kept these drugs for seven years instead.
Satheesan intensified his claims by saying that pharmaceutical companies who win tenders supply outdated or near-expired drugs.
“They charge a fraction of the bid amount and give the government the rest as commission. He said it goes into a magic box.
The LoP also claimed that many companies’ pharmaceuticals are never tested and each batch is not checked for quality.
This is the worst corruption because it involves giving people medicine. He called the minister’s response irresponsible.
The Congress leader claimed that expired drugs change molecularly and can harm individuals.
Conclusion
Medical Services Corporation (KMCL) procurement impropriety was refuted by Kerala Health Minister Veena George. She asserted that neither KMCL nor government hospitals gave patients or the public expired drugs. The Assembly’s Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan highlighted a CAG report that said 26 hospitals received expired drugs without quality checks. Satheesan claimed that the last UDF government acquired vast supplies of substandard, short-lived pharmaceuticals and placed them in warehouses across the state instead of destroying them. He said KMCL had kept these drugs for seven years since UDF lost control.
