As per reports of a leading media organisation in Kerala, many patients including children are denied treatment due to a shortage of medicines including Chemotherapy at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Thiruvananthapuram. However, the RCC explains that the problem is due to the Medical Services Corporation’s irresponsibility to procure medicines. On the other hand, according to the Medical Corporation, the delay in purchasing the medicine was due to the non-cooperation of the RCC.
The situation of many patients including children is very pathetic due to the shortage of drugs. For instance, the health of a seven-year-old boy from Vadakara, whose condition was controlled by chemotherapy, is deteriorating now as the chemotherapy has been stopped due to the lack of medicine in RCC. He has been undergoing treatment for kidney cancer for the last five years.
Similarly, the condition of a two and a half-year-old with leukemia is not different. They will have to pay nearly Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 to buy medicines from outside.
Reportedly, the RCC officials admit that there is a severe shortage of medicines in the hospital. According to the Medical Corporation, a government order allows the RCC to procure medicines locally in case of emergencies. However, even a month after the patients were seriously affected, the dispute between the RCC and the corporation is still going.
Meanwhile, reportedly, the government has intervened and the Health Minister has convened a high-level meeting to look into the matter.
