A group of medical device suppliers on Monday said they have stopped deliveries to government hospitals and medical college hospitals in Kerala over unpaid bills totalling ₹158.7 crore.
The Chamber of Distributors of Medical Implants and Disposables (CDMID), which supplies essential devices, including guide wires, guide catheters, PTCA balloons, and coronary stents to cath labs and interventional radiology labs in government hospitals, cited pending payments as the reason for halting supplies.
In a letter to the State government and hospital superintendents on August 29, the CDMID said: “Payments totalling ₹158.7 crore are pending from government hospitals and medical college hospitals in Kerala. All distributors are in dire straits and request early intervention by the government.” The letter noted that meetings were held with Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal and the personal secretary to the Health Minister on August 1.
“We were assured that we would be receiving some payments in August. To date, we are not able to pay the principal suppliers to procure stocks, and distributors across Kerala are running out of guide wires, guide catheters, PTCA balloons, and coronary stents,” the letter said.
The CDMID clarified that as of September 1 they were compelled to refrain from replenishing consignment stock at all government centres.
“All purchase orders for accessories will also be difficult to fulfil, as available stock is negligible,” it added.
The suppliers specifically requested payment of all outstanding invoices for the Karunya Benevolent Fund (KBF), Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padathi (KSAP), and Medisep (health insurance scheme for government officials) up to March 31, 2025 to enable them to pay principal suppliers, procure new stock, and resume supplies to government institutions.
According to the CDMID, pending arrears include ₹29.56 crore from Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, ₹34.90 crore from Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, ₹21 crore from Government Medical College Hospital, Kottayam, ₹13.96 crore from Pariyaram Medical College Hospital in Kannur, and ₹13.74 crore from Ernakulam General Hospital.
CDMID office-bearers said the government has not yet invited them for discussions and there has been no official response thus far.
Published – September 01, 2025 08:46 pm IST
