Thu Oct 23 16:06:09 UTC 2025: Summary:
The Kerala state government is planning to centralize the procurement of cardiac cath lab consumables for all public health sector hospitals. This decision follows a dispute with distributors who allegedly threatened to disrupt cardiac procedures by withholding supplies due to payment delays. The government aims to purchase directly from medical device firms through the Kerala State Medical Services Corporation (KMSC) to secure lower rates and prevent supply disruptions. The KMSC has been instructed to prepare tender documents, and hospitals have been asked to provide data on their needs. The government has also released funds to address immediate payment backlogs under the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhati (KASP) scheme.
News Article:
Kerala to Centralize Purchase of Cardiac Cath Lab Consumables After Distributor Dispute
Thiruvananthapuram, October 23, 2025 – The Kerala state government has announced plans to centralize the procurement of cardiac cath lab consumables for all public hospitals, aiming to secure better prices and prevent disruptions in critical cardiac procedures. The decision follows a recent dispute with distributors who allegedly threatened to halt supplies due to payment delays, sparking concerns over patient care.
Health Minister Veena George convened a high-level meeting where officials agreed that a standardized procurement process was necessary to protect the state from potential supply chain disruptions. The Kerala State Medical Services Corporation (KMSC) will be responsible for purchasing consumables directly from medical device firms through a tendering process.
“We have 14 cath labs under the DME and another 10 under the DHS. On an average, at least 15 procedures are done six days a week in each cath lab,” stated K.V. Vishwanathan, DME.
The government has ordered the KMSC to draft tender documents within a week and has requested all public hospitals with cath labs to provide detailed information on their average consumable needs and current procurement practices. This data will help the KMSC accurately assess the state’s total requirements.
The government also sanctioned ₹250 crore to the State Health Agency for partial payment of pending bills under the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhati (KASP) to alleviate immediate financial pressures. The state currently owes over ₹1,200 crore to public hospitals under the KASP reimbursement program.
“The government reckons that the Chamber of Distributors of Medical Implants and Disposables crossed a line when they ‘forcibly’ took away the cardiac consumables stocks from the Kottayam Government Medical College the other day, ‘creating a scene,'” said Dr. Vishwanathan. Ms. George stated that the distributors had “a clear agenda” to demean and portray the government in a bad light.
The move is expected to significantly reduce costs due to the large volumes involved and streamline the procurement process, ensuring a consistent supply of essential medical devices for cardiac patients across the state.
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