Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s public healthcare system is confronting a serious crisis in cardiac care as two major medical colleges in the state have been forced to suspend heart surgeries due to a shortage of essential equipment. The disruption has left patients and their families anxious, with critical procedures delayed indefinitely amid mounting uncertainty.
The shortage stems from unsettled dues to medical equipment suppliers, who have warned that they will halt all deliveries unless pending payments are cleared. The suppliers have demanded a minimum payment of ₹10 crore to resume supply of crucial heart surgery apparatus. If payments are not made by the set deadline, they have threatened to retrieve existing equipment, which could further cripple cardiac services.
Statewide, government hospitals owe a total of ₹158 crore to various suppliers, with Thiruvananthapuram Medical College alone owing ₹29.56 lakh. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Kerala government has allocated ₹100 crore to mitigate equipment shortages in hospitals, dividing the funds between ₹65 crore for government hospitals and ₹35 crore for private facilities. Despite this, suppliers have maintained that they will not resume deliveries until arrears from February 2024 to March 2025 are cleared, prolonging the crisis.
The Department of Medical Education (DME) has been urged to accelerate the payment process and negotiate with suppliers to prevent further disruptions. Officials emphasized the urgency of restoring equipment supply to ensure that life-saving cardiac procedures can continue without interruption. Doctors and hospital staff are working under considerable pressure, balancing limited resources with the demands of patients in critical condition.
Healthcare experts warn that this situation highlights the critical need for financial accountability and timely management in public health systems. Delays in payments not only jeopardize patient care but also threaten the credibility of institutions responsible for delivering essential medical services.
As the deadline approaches, the eyes of patients, families, and medical professionals are firmly on the authorities, hoping that swift and decisive action will resolve the equipment shortage and restore normalcy to cardiac care services across Kerala.