The Ayurveda hospitals in Kerala are facing major crisis as there are complaints of Ayurveda pharmacies running short of several important drugs and the resultant dwindling turnout of patients to these hospitals.

Medical Officers in the ayurvedic dispensaries and hospitals complain that their pharmacies are running short of many important drugs and the number of patients coming to the hospital is steadily decreasing. The situation blights the existence of these traditional medical institutions by forcing the patients to depend on allopathic hospitals and expensive methods of treatments.

Due to non-availability of drugs, patients have to purchase these medicines from private medical shops by giving huge prices. “Only economically stable patients can afford them, but it becomes difficult for the poor patients to do so,” said a medical officer belongs to Idukki district in Kerala.

Apart from the drug shortage, all the Indian medicine hospitals are working without sufficient staff such as pharmacists, nurses and attenders. According to the medical officers, government is showing no interest in Ayurveda hospitals and the sector itself is in a major crisis.

In a chat with Pharmabiz during the Ayurveda Medical Association’s state conference in Kozhikode in Kerala, the physicians of Ayurveda system said the hospitals are getting an allotment of Rs.75000 from government during three terms for procurement of medicines. Since the hospitals come under the local bodies, additional expenditures are incurred by the local Panchayats, most of whom do not have supportive attitude.

“The delivery of supply is done by Aushadhi, but we have to wait three to six months period to get it. Government or the local Panchayats do not take any step to avoid the delay. There is always shortage of the essential ‘Kashaayams’, tablets, 'Arishtams', ointment and powders. So we advise the patients to buy the medicines from outside. Recently, the government has given order to Aushadhi to deliver the supply within two months of the intent received,” said a doctor.

An ayurveda dispensary or hospital should have some essential Kashaayams including Rasnerandaathi, Punarnavaathi, Desamoola Kaduthrayam and Rasnaasthakam, but these medicines are not available in most of the hospitals in Kerala, said the doctors. In the case of tablets, shortage is there for Kaishoragugulu, Yogarajagugulu, Vettumaaran and Chandraprabha.

Arishtams such as Amruthaarishtam, Abhayaarishtam, Mustaarishtam and Vaashaarishtam, oils including Murivenna, Karpooradi thailam, Kottamchukkaathi and Pindathailam, ointments like Dhanwantharam, Sahacharaadi, and powders such as Taaleesapathraadi and Raasnaadi are also not available in any of the hospitals or dispensaries functioning across the state.

The members of AMAI said Kerala has about 800 Ayurveda dispensaries which are controlled by the local bodies. But in 256 Panchayaths, there are no dispensaries.

Meanwhile, when contacted, joint director of ISM admitted that there is pending of supply from Aushadhi and said the management of dispensaries and hospitals in the villages is under the control of local bodies whose duty is to procure the medicines on time. He said there is no budget allocation for purchase of medicines to these Ayush hospitals from the government.