Kerala: Oppn Leader Satheesan Slams Vijayan Govt, Alleges Expired Medicines Being Distributed to Hospitals

Kerala opposition leader V D Satheesan lashed out at the state government and alleged that expired medicines were distributed to hospitals by the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMSCL).

Satheesan cited parts of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report, which has not yet been tabled, and alleged a huge corruption.

In a press conference, Satheesan said, “Parts of the CAG report which has come out is shocking. It talks about shocking corruption in the KMSCL.”

“Is the health minister ready to say that not a single medicine which has expired, which shouldn’t have been given was given through KMSCL? If something like that was given, she has the responsibility for it. Is the health minister ready to say this?” he asked.

The Congress leader alleged that expired medicines were distributed to 26 hospitals. “Medicines distribution, which were frozen due to low quality, was distributed to 483 hospitals. To 148 hospitals, medicines, which were ordered to stop distribution, were distributed,” said Satheesan.

He said, “Pharmaceutical companies cannot sell medicines which have crossed the expiry date or nearing expiry date. They will have to destroy it. If you purchase medicines worth Rs 100 crore, which has crossed the expiry date or which is about to expire, you pay them Rs 10 crore to Rs 20 crore, the rest goes as a bribe because, for the manufacturers, it is anyway medicine they had to dispose of.”

The health minister said that it is a “health audit” by the CAG from 2016 to 2021. “It is only a draft, an amended draft was sent to the health department by the CAG. The health department will reply,” he said.

George said that they have a very good system, it is literally impossible to give expired medicines out. “She said, “DHS, DME, and KMSCL are enquiring and we will send a report to the CAG.”