Thiruvananthapuram, The Keralam Assembly on Tuesday witnessed a heated exchange over alleged shortages of medicines and other problems in the health sector, including vacant posts, with the opposition LDF walking out after accusing the health minister of taking the issue “lightly.”
Rejecting the charges, Health Minister K Muraleedharan said there was no such crisis in the health department to warrant suspending other business of the House for a discussion.
The minister said purchase orders had not been issued in March due to the model code of conduct and alleged that the previous LDF government had left huge dues unpaid to medicine companies.
The opposition, however, accused the minister of taking the problems in the health sector “lightly. Based on the minister’s reply, Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan denied leave for the adjournment motion, prompting Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan to criticise the minister and the Speaker.
The opposition said the minister should understand the problems in his own department and take officials into confidence. Taking a dig at the LDF members, Muraleedharan, however, said stocks were available for all medicines at present, but there was no medicine for the opposition’s ailment of losing power, drawing protests from its members. Vijayan questioned whether the minister’s response was appropriate and said the Speaker should have commented on the manner in which the health minister had replied to the opposition.
