Frequent administrative changes hit availability of life-saving drugs in Kidwai institute

Frequent changes in the administration have delayed the tendering process for procurement of life-saving medicines and consumables Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru.
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The State-run Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology has seen four directors and two administrators in the last one year. Lack of appointment of a full-time director has hampered the functioning of the institute and patients have been hit hard.

Frequent changes in the administration have delayed the tendering process for procurement of life-saving medicines and consumables as the in-charge director has no powers to invite tenders. Following this, patients are forced to buy expensive cancer drugs from outside, even if they are covered under health schemes.

Since February 2024, when the former director V. Lokesh was placed under suspension, the premier cancer care centre has not had a full-time director. Dr. Lokesh, who headed the Department of Radiation Oncology was appointed as director on October 17, 2022, during the erstwhile BJP government.

Probe by committee

However, after the Congress government took over, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s office received several complaints regarding the alleged lack of transparency in the procurement of medicines and medical equipment by the director at Kidwai. The Chief Minister set up a three-member committee headed by Arundathi Chandrashekar, Commissioner of Treasuries, to probe the allegations of irregularities at the institute.

Based on the committee’s report, the government shunted out Dr. Lokesh and appointed Syed Altaf, professor and head of the Department of Surgical Oncology at Kidwai, as in-charge director on February 21, 2024. At the same time, the government appointed IAS officer N. Manjushree as the administrator of Kidwai for six months.

Subsequently, in March last year, Dr. Lokesh approached the Karnataka High Court and obtained a stay over his suspension and Dr. Altaf’s appointment. In August, the High Court upheld Dr. Lokesh’s suspension, but quashed Dr. Altaf’s appointment.

In-charge director

Following that, in October, the government appointed Tejaswini B. as in-charge director. However, the post again fell vacant after she voluntarily gave it up in three months. On December 21, the government appointed Ravi Arjun, professor and head of Surgical Oncology, as in-charge director. Dr. Arjun is due for retirement this month.

Meanwhile, in September 2024, on completion of Ms. Manjushree’s term, the government appointed Naveen Bhat Y., State Mission Director, National Health Mission, as administrator.

Legal hurdles

Attributing the delay in the appointment of a full-time director to the legal disputes, Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil said the problems are being sorted out. “I have directed the administrator to ensure the required drugs are available in the institute’s central medical store. If any essential drugs and consumables are not available, doctors have been asked to immediately bring the issue to the notice of the director. The in-charge director has been authorised to initiate measures for temporary urgent procurement. Action will be initiated against doctors if patients are given prescriptions to buy medicine from outside. A circular was issued in this regard this week,” the Minister told The Hindu.

“The case is coming up for hearing this month-end and we, based on the outcome, will call applications and appoint a full-time director soon,” he said.

Dr. Arjun said the drug shortage had been resolved by extending the previous tender. “Procurement will continue through the same suppliers till new tenders are called. Now, all required drugs and consumables are available in our central medical store,” he said.