Keralam Assembly: Opposition, ruling front spar over health sector crisis

The Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) traded barbs in the Kerala Legislative Assembly on Tuesday (October 13, 2026) over the state of the health sector, with the former citing medicine shortages, arbitrary staff retrenchments and transfers, and cases of medical negligence.

Moving an adjournment motion to discuss the shortage of medicines in government hospitals across the State, K.V. Sumesh, MLA, said the health sector had been put “on a ventilator” since the UDF came to power, triggering an uproar in the House.

“Thousands of patients were struggling to obtain medicines for lifestyle diseases from government hospitals, while a critical shortage of life-saving drugs had compounded the crisis,” said Mr. Sumesh, citing an alleged leaked audio recording of senior health officials.

Health Minister refutes charges

Dismissing the Opposition’s allegations, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan maintained that the situation in the health sector was “under control”. He remarked that “the only medicine in short supply was one that could cure the Opposition of its ailment of having lost power”.

He also alleged that the Opposition was working in the interests of the State’s private hospital network.

The Minister’s remarks triggered another uproar in the Assembly, with Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan criticising the former’s response and questioning whether such remarks were appropriate while addressing a serious issue in the House. He also questioned the Speaker’s “failure to comment on the Minister’s tone.”

Pinarayi alleges nexus

Mr. Vijayan accused the Minister of downplaying the crisis by describing it as a shortage of certain medicines rather than a scarcity. He questioned whether a shortage of medicines affecting patients could be distinguished from a scarcity. He also raised suspicions of a possible nexus between the medicine shortage and corporate private hospitals.

The Opposition subsequently staged a walkout in protest against the denial of permission to discuss the issue after the Assembly suspended its regular proceedings to take up the motion.

Earlier, responding to the allegations, Mr. Muraleedharan said the problems in the Health department were not as serious as the Opposition had portrayed them. Purchase orders for procuring medicines were not issued by the previous LDF govt in March due to the Model Code of Conduct (for polls), he said.

He further alleged that the previous LDF government had accumulated substantial arrears with pharmaceutical companies.

While acknowledging a shortage of certain medicines, he said urgent measures had been initiated to address the problem.

The Minister also rejected the Opposition’s allegation that transfers in the Health Department were politically motivated.

He, however, informed the House that a report has been sought from authorities in connection with a recent reported medical negligence case and action would be taken based on the report.