Delay in supply of various types of homoeopathic medicines to government dispensaries and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) units affects the operations of more than one thousand homoeo dispensaries and hospitals in Kerala.

According to medical sources, certain dispensaries, come under the local self-governments, have no means to treat their patients adequately. Many of the homoeo wings attached to the NRHM are running short of remedies for the last one year. It is learnt that even if a medical officer from a dispensary or a hospital sends the intent of their medicine requirements to the district medical offices on time, it generally takes six months to one year to get the supply, said one doctor serving in an NRHM wing.

Compared to other states, now all the village punchayaths in Kerala have got homoeo dispensaries which are controlled by the local bodies. Homoeopathic preparations to the dispensaries are purchased by the village punchayaths through DMO office. On emergency occasions, the dispensaries will directly purchase the drugs from private companies due to the delay in government supply.

Supply of medicines to all the government homoeo hospitals and dispensaries is done by the state owned Kerala State Homoeopathic Co Operative Pharmacy (HOMCO). It is alleged that HOMCO is giving preference to outside marketing rather than fulfilling the local requirements. Huge quantity of medicines from the company is supplied to hospitals in other states and also to foreign countries. This export marketing is done when large number of hospitals in the state run out of medicines for day to day treatments, said a medical officer of an NRHM unit in Kollam district.

As per the latest reports, there are 661 government run homoeo dispensaries function in various parts of the state. Besides, 403 homoeo units are working at the NRHM centres. There are 29 hospitals and two medical colleges working under the state government. The number of aided medical colleges is 3. It is the duty of the society, HOMCO, to supply medicines to all these health care centres, but its capacity of manufacture is very less in terms of the number of hospitals, said the medical officer.

Until five years ago, there were only 525 homoeo dispensaries in Kerala and the HOMCO started to supply for these centres. Though the number of hospitals has increased, the capacity of the manufacturing plant is remaining the same. Even the manpower at the company has also not been increased. In the private sector, two manufacturing firms produce homoeo medicines.

While talking to Pharmabiz, several of the association office-bearers are of the opinion that steps should be taken to increase the manufacturing capacity of the co operative pharmacy. During the last ten years, the number of private homoeo clinics has also increased  and these centres are also depending on HOMCO for their needs.