Shortage of Anti-Rabies vaccine at Kozhikode Government Medical College

Kozhikode: Government Medical College in Kozhikode has been facing a shortage of anti-rabies vaccines for the past one month. Patients at the GMC hospital are increasing each day creating chaos at the hospital. 

Prior to coming to the GMC, patients would get vaccinated at city clinics or health centres, but the number of vaccines available at those clinics is also decreasing as a result of a shortage of vaccines. This has led to an increase in footfall at the GMC.

There is a heavy rush in the city's health centres with long lines of patients waiting from morning till evening but to no avail.

Due to the unavailability of vaccines at the health centres, the patients are being sent to other medical colleges and hospitals in Kozhikode. To provide vaccines to the patients, GMC is now acquiring them from other hospitals in Kozhikode which are also facing the same issue now.

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While speaking with Mathrubhumi, GMC health officials said that "The vaccine shots are bought as an emergency measure from excess stock at general and beach hospitals. Both these hospitals are also experiencing a shortage in vaccines."

Generally, the vaccines are provided by the Kerala Medical Services Corporation (KMSCL). KMSCL is a fully owned Government Company for providing services to the various health care institutions under the department of Family Welfare as per Section 617 of Companies Act; 1956.

The medical colleges and hospitals in Kozhikode issued an order to KMSCL urging them to send the vaccines early but the stock has not yet arrived at any hospitals in the city.

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KMSCL only supply orders to big companies instead of small ones as only big enterprises with a current turnover of Rs 50 crore are eligible to compete in the tender, according to KMSCL rules restricting the small companies which are unable to participate in this tender process.

The health centres and medical colleges in Kozhikode are expected to be affected by the shortfall of vaccines as the tender procedures for the vaccine hit their limit on Monday. Further a long wait for the medical hospitals and Public Health centres in the city.