Drug shelves in hospitals lying vacant

KOCHI: Even while the district is caught in the grip of monsoon diseases, many primary health centres are suffering from shortage of medicines. The doctors, as part of their protest against the government, are not providing reports including the requirements of medicines to the authorities of Health Department in the district, making it difficult for the authorities to make proper arrangements in this regard.Cases of various communicable disease are going up in the district. The number of fever cases has touched around 8,000 by July 11. The cases of diarrhoea reported till the date is around 900. Cases of leptospirosis, dengue fever and chikungunya have also been reported from certain parts of the district. “There isn’t any shortage of medicines in the hospitals in the district. As of now, nobody has brought such an issue to our notice,” said Dr Sudhakaran, Ernakulam DMO.Cases of leptospirosis, chikungunya and dengue fever have been reported from Vallarpadom, Angamaly, Chengamanad, Tripunithura, Mulavukad and Mulanthuruthy. The viral fever cases are being reported mainly from Vypeen and southern and eastern  parts of the district.According to the officials no cases of H1N1 has been reported so far. “Though four suspected cases of H1N1 are reported, we haven’t confirmed it. The samples have been sent to the laboratories for more tests,” an official with the DMO office said.Worsening the situation, the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association which has been on a war path have decided to intensify the strike.  The doctors have decided to intensify the strike after the talks with the state government held on Monday failed. Though the doctors are yet to decide their future course of action, one thing is sure - they will strengthen their no-cooperation mode.