Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Health Minister Veena George strongly defended the state government’s actions during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their responses were made in the Assembly regarding the findings in a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report. The report has criticised the procurement of medical supplies and raised concerns about the alleged distribution of expired medicines in government hospitals.
Chief Minister Vijayan emphasised the government’s commitment to protecting health workers and ensuring the availability of life-saving equipment during the pandemic. “During Covid-19, health workers were putting their lives at risk. The government has the right to protect their lives,” he stated. He highlighted Kerala’s preparedness, citing the availability of PPE kits and oxygen cylinders, which he contrasted with shortages seen in other parts of the country. “Our people did not die due to a lack of oxygen,” he added.
Vijayan also pointed out the challenges of procuring PPE kits during the global crisis, explaining the price surges and supply chain difficulties. “The market rate for PPE kits before Covid-19 was Rs 545, but during the pandemic, raw material shortages and transportation issues drove up prices. None of this was considered in the CAG report,” he said. The Chief Minister further clarified that the government cancelled orders when suppliers failed to meet commitments and placed new ones to ensure supplies.
Health Minister Veena George dismissed the CAG’s claim that expired medicines were distributed in government hospitals, calling it baseless. “When the draft report came, we gave a clear reply. Even the Opposition leader knows that in Kerala, our health workers have not given expired medicines,” she said.
George elaborated on the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic, underlining the government’s efforts to secure PPE kits and other essentials despite global shortages. “It was a time when people wore PPE kits even to bury the dead. No dead bodies were seen floating in rivers here, and no one died without oxygen or a ventilator. This was not the case even in some developed nations,” she remarked. She added that elderly patients from developed countries sought treatment in Kerala during the pandemic.
The ministers reiterated that the CAG report is not final and will be reviewed by the Public Accounts Committee. Both leaders criticised the Opposition for making unfounded allegations, urging them to avoid politicising the issue. “We might have political differences, but we should not resort to baseless and non-factual statements,” George said.