Thiruvananthapuram: The Ministry of Health and Industry in Kerala is exploring the possibility of local manufacturing drugs, safety kits and medical equipment in the state to ensure adequate availability in front of the third wave Covid-19.
For this, the Second Secretary Committee of the Second Department and Management Director of Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) and State Medicine Kerala and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (KSDPL) will be formed, ministers from the two departments in the release on Saturday.
It was said that the meeting with the Minister of Health Veena George and the Kerala Industry Minister P Rajeev was held to ensure the availability of safety kits, such as gloves, masks and medical equipment.
George, in the release, said it would be a great achievement to be domestically producing the safety and medical equipment needed for the health sector because the second wave saw a lack of many safety devices with many factories in other countries that died because Covid19.
He said the health sector was preparing for the third wave and the necessary medical and safety equipment must be provided in advance.
He further said if this equipment was made in Kerala, it would also help the domestic industry.
George said that if more drugs needed can also be produced in the state, it will reduce the procurement costs from outside Kerala and also benefit the health sector here.
At present, on average, only 10 percent of the drugs needed for countries produced in Kerala and the remaining 90 percent are bought by KMSCL from other states, he said in the release.
In this case, Rajeev said, “Very satisfying that the Ministry of Health has advanced when this industry is seriously considering producing drugs.” He also said that the Industrial Department was conducting a study of whether the country could produce the necessary drugs along with Covid and KSDPL safety equipment made good progress in connection with the manufacture of drugs.
The Industrial Department will also launch medical equipment and device devices to ensure the availability of medical equipment and devices, he said in the release.
“This will provide medical equipment needed and at the same time, ensure that quality is guaranteed,” he added.