Uproar in assembly over Muraleedharan’s remark on opposition's 'grief of losing power'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister K Muraleedharan told the Kerala Assembly that the medicine shortage in the state was due to the mismanagement of the previous government. His sarcastic remark that the only medicine out of stock was the one needed to cure the pain of losing power triggered an uproar in the assembly. The minister made the comment while replying to an adjournment motion notice moved by the opposition pointing the various issues in the healthcare sector.

Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan said it was inappropriate for a minister to respond in such a manner. He reminded the Speaker to intervene when members make remarks unacceptable in the assembly. Pinarayi demanded an investigation into the deals behind medicine procurement and expressed concern that attempts might be underway to hand over the healthcare sector to large corporate hospitals.

The minister said the present medicine shortage was the result of the previous government’s failure to issue purchase orders on time. He also pointed out that the previous government had failed to clear substantial outstanding payments owed to pharmaceutical companies, which contributed to the shortage. However, Muraleedharan said there is shortage only in 26 medicines. He said the problem had been resolved through local procurement and the redistribution of medicines to facilities where stocks had run out. He also stated that steps had been initiated to procure medicines by eliminating middlemen.

Muraleedharan further alleged that the government had received commissions on purchasing medicines throughout the previous ten years. He accused the opposition of working for private companies acting as agents of the American firm Blackstone.

The Speaker denied permission to move the adjournment motion based on the minister’s reply. The opposition then boycotted the assembly proceedings.