Government hospitals in Kozhikode district are in the grip of a shortage of drugs, especially antibiotics and those necessary to treat lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, cholesterol, and hypertension.
This is happening at a time when there is a rise in the number of people seeking treatment for viral infections. Thousands are reported to be approaching the outpatient departments of various hospitals with flu symptoms. The shortage seems to be severe at the Government Medical College Hospital, Government General Hospital, Government District Hospital, and the four taluk hospitals at Koyilandy, Perambra, Balussery, Thamarassery, Feroke, Kuttiyadi, and Nadapuram. The poor are the worst hit, as they are the ones most dependent on government hospitals.
Sources said many patients were finding it difficult to get azithromycin and amoxicilline, antibiotic drugs; salbutamol, which is used to treat breathing problems such as asthma; pain killer aspirin; and even paracetamol tablets and syrup. In some places, doxycycline, commonly used to treat bacterial infections, is in short supply.
