Kerala Health Minister reviews medicine supply, says KMSCL stocks are reaching health centres

6 October 2026

At a high-level review of the Health Department on 6 October 2026, Health and Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan said the distribution of life-saving drugs, lifestyle disease medicines and antibiotics in government hospitals has been streamlined. Steps have been taken to ensure that medicines bought through KMSCL move in full from district stores to health centres. The meeting was told that several cancer, heart disease and mental illness medicines will be fully available shortly and that institutions are meanwhile using local purchase, and KMSCL said Factor 9 would be delivered within two days of a requirement. The minister asked district-level medicine monitoring committees to track stock at every institution and act before shortages arise, and asked for coordination with other departments and local bodies against dengue and rat fever. He also sought a review of extending 24-hour specialist services to more institutions and monitoring of 108 ambulance operations. Health Principal Secretary Dr Sharmila Mary Joseph, National Health Mission Director Dr Renu Raj, Health Services Director Dr V Meenakshi and Medical Education Director Dr K V Vishwanathan attended.