Thiruvananthapuram: Keralam Health Minister K Muraleedharan on Tuesday said that there is a shortage of only 18 medicines in the government hospitals in the state and it will be resolved within a week.
The minister's clarification comes a day after veteran CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that there was acute shortage of all medicines, including essential ones, in the government hospitals.
Muraleedharan told reporters that not all medicines will always be in stock.
"There is a shortage of 18 medicines currently and that will be resolved within a week. Instructions have been issued to Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMSCL)," he said.
The minister also said that the media can find out which medicines are in short supply by contacting the respective District Medical Officers (DMO) at the district-level or the Director of Health Services (DHS) at the state-level.
Muraleedharan who admitted to the shortage of some medicines had last week claimed there was sufficient stock of all medicines in the government hospitals.
Vijayan on Monday had claimed that there is an acute shortage of medicines in government hospitals in the state and the administration was trying to cover it up.