Kerala: Rs 10 crore aid to ramp up heart surgeries in Govt Medical Colleges

The procurement and distribution of stents will be managed through the In-House Drug Bank (IHDB) located near SAT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Besides stents, the allocation will also cover pacemakers, balloons, valves, and other medical devices needed for heart surgeries.

The government has devised an alternative strategy to address the crisis caused by companies suspending the supply of stents and other critical equipment. The plan includes purchasing one month's worth of stents for medical colleges in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode, reports Keralakaumudi. The stents will also be made available to general hospitals as needed. The distribution is expected to begin this week.

This intervention comes after suppliers halted the supply of stents to 19 government hospitals at the beginning of the month due to outstanding payments totalling Rs 143 crore. As a result, hospitals have been relying on their existing stock to continue surgeries. The government has committed to ensuring the continuity of heart surgeries and plans to negotiate stent prices through the IHDB. The Drug Bank has stated that it can secure stents at a price 8% lower than the current cost, allowing medical colleges to save funds, reports the Daily.

Despite the initial allocation of Rs 10 crore, there is uncertainty regarding further funding in the following months. Thiruvananthapuram Medical College alone requires stents worth Rs 2 crore each month. In a positive development, suppliers at Palakkad General Hospital ended their strike after receiving Rs 1.36 crore in pending payments last week. This resolution is expected to ease pressure on the hospital and ensure patients receive the necessary care.