Health Minister orders 10-year review into medicine procurement and management in Kerala

Published 30 July 2026 · health

Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has directed the Principal Secretary (Health) to conduct a comprehensive review of the medicine procurement, inventory management and distribution across the

Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has directed the Principal Secretary (Health) to conduct a comprehensive review of the medicine procurement, inventory management and distribution across the State’s public health system over the past 10 years, after it emerged that a considerable quantity of medicines procured for government health institutions has expired unused over the years, resulting in financial losses to the State exchequer. The note addressed to the Principal Secretary (Health), dated July 28, says that as the nodal agency for the procurement, warehousing and distribution of medicines to government health institutions, the role of Kerala State Medical Services Corporation Ltd.

(KMSCL) in the procurement and management of medicines also required detailed examination. ‘Most urgent’ The Minister noted that the matter may be treated as “most urgent”. The Principal Secretary (Health) has been asked to cover the last 10 years and submit a report addressing seven specific areas such as the total quantity and value of expired medicines, broken down year-wise and institution-wise, and the details of medicines procured through KMSCL and other agencies that subsequently expired and the reasons and circumstances that led to such procurement and expiry.

The Minister has also sought a probe into KMSCL’s role in procurement planning, inventory management, stock rotation and the redistribution of near-expiry medicines. Within a month He has asked for the details of the expenditure incurred on the collection and scientific disposal of expired medicines during the 10-year period and the details of any lapses in procurement, stock management or monitoring, along with corrective measures proposed. The Principal Secretary has also been asked to submit the current inventory of expired medicines still on hand, supported by photographic evidence from all institutions and KMSCL warehouses.

The note says that a comprehensive report with recommendations for preventing the recurrence of such wastage be submitted within a month.

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