Most government medical college hospitals in the State are short on pharmacists to dispense medicines. This is causing hardships to needy patients, particularly because many speciality drugs are now being dispensed through the pharma stores attached to the MCHs.
The problem is acute at Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, where 19 of the total 41 posts are vacant.
According to sources, there are 41 vacant posts of pharmacists at the MCHs in Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram, which are attached to the Directorate of Medical Education (DME).
The sources point out that new posts of pharmacists have not been created after the splitting of the Directorate of Health Services to form the DME in 2008-09. Temporary staff or those on daily wages are being appointed if there are retirements. The number of posts has not been increased despite the introduction of new facilities and schemes.
Earlier, the Kerala Public Service Commission recruited candidates from the district level. After the bifurcation, the process will have to be held at the State-level, which is not happening.
For example, at the Kozhikode MCH, there are now pharmacy stores at the super-speciality block, cancer ward, at the Institute of Maternal and Child Health, and the Institute of Chest Diseases. However, existing staff are being deputed at most of these places instead of creating new posts.
There has been a rise in the number of patients and the number of speciality medicines being distributed too. Medicines worth around ₹24 crore have been distributed at the Kozhikode MCH in the current financial year. Even though expensive medicines are being distributed at the pharmacy stores, there is no sense of accountability as the staff are not permanent. There have been quite a few complaints from patients too.
A. Remla Beevi, Director of Medical Education, told The Hindu that there has been no laxity on their part on reporting the vacancies to the Kerala Public Service Commission. Meanwhile, the Kerala Government Pharmacists' Association has submitted a memorandum to the government seeking creation of new posts.