Thiruvananthapuram: The distribution of free insulin to diabetics in Kerala through government hospitals has been hit as a Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company is yet to deliver the drug. The Kerala Medical Services Corporation is now trying to arrange one-and-a-half lakh units of insulin from the Karunya Health Scheme to meet the demand for a month's distribution.
Shreya Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd. has the contract from the Corporation to provide insulin. The company has informed that due to lack of availability of raw materials production has been delayed.
According to the agreement, the company has to provide 22 lakh units of insulin 30/70. A majority of diabetics use insulin 30/70 to lower levels of glucose in the blood.
The Corporation may replace Shreya and buy insulin from the company that came second in the tendering process. According to the contract, a company needs to be given 60 days to start supplying the medicine. If the Corporation decides to wait for so long, the insulin distribution will be completely stopped.
In Kollam district alone, there are 4,000 diabetics who get benefits of the free insulin scheme. With the unavailability of free medicine, several patients have already stopped using insulin. Primary health centres have been directed to use funds from village panchayats to buy insulin, said the DMO.
In Pathanamthitta too, the distribution of insulin and other medicines have been hit. However, Alappuzha has enough stock. Kottayam district did not get insulin even in May. The news appeared in the media, forcing the health minister to intervene.
In Idukki, all government hospitals including primary health centres have insulin in stock. The medicine is available in the main hospitals including the general hospital in Ernakulam.
Insulin shortage has been reported from Paravur taluk hospital, while several primary health centres do not have stock. Panchayats have earmarked funds to buy insulin at primary health centres in several places.
Though there has been a shortage of the medicine in Thrissur, there is no crisis. District medical officer Dr K J Reena said that she has issued orders to utilise funds of local government bodies and hospital management committees to buy insulin.
The shortage is severe in the government hospitals in Palakkad district's Attappady, Mannarkkad, Nandiyod and Kollankode areas.
There is no shortage at present at Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur districts. They are buying 10% of the requirements through Karunya to sustain the distribution. Some hospitals in Kannur had faced problems in May but they have received fresh stock on June 1. The medicine is available in all areas in Wayanad.
A unit of insulin 30/70 costs Rs 125 in the market.
