Strike by medicine distributors at Kozhikode MCH enters a week
The Hindu
Hospital authorities in Kozhikode face payment delays, impacting patient care as distributors halt supply over ₹90 crore dues.
Efforts are reportedly being made by the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) to solve the impasse at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Kozhikode, due to the halt in supply of medicines and surgical devices by the distributors since January 10.
According to DME sources, the hospital authorities have been told to continue discussions with the distributors who are peeved over the delay in clearing their payments for the supply from April 2024. It is learnt that the authorities have cleared the payments for April and up to May 22 after the beginning of the strike. Functionaries of the All-Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association and surgical distributors are now seeking clearance of the payments up to September 2024.
A drug distributor told The Hindu on Thursday that they would not be able to resume supply to the fair price shop and Karunya medical shop at the hospital until the payment was made. The hospital authorities could not be reached for comments.
Meanwhile, the halt in supply of medicines and surgical devices has already hit patients, especially those from poor families, who are dependent on the MCH for treatment. Those who are on regular dialysis are reportedly the worst hit as they have been told to buy expensive devices for the procedure from private medical shops. Heart patients and cancer patients are equally worried.
The distributors stopped supply claiming that the dues had reached ₹90 crore. When a similar situation had cropped up in March 2024, the distributors and the authorities reached an agreement to clear the hurdles in payments through mutual consultations and talks. However, many distributors claimed that the agreement was violated, and that a number of business units were on the verge of closure because of financial crisis. The dues up to March 31 had been cleared till December 31, 2024.
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