THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: From March 31, suppliers of stents and other medical implants to government hospitals will not give credit for more than 90 days. This has been decided in the wake of medical colleges and other hospitals making huge arrears in payments.
The chamber of distributors of medical implants and disposables has decided to take stock of the arrears by March 31 and serve notices to hospitals to clear the dues.
The stent supply to the government medical colleges and general hospitals has been facing a crisis from November last year since there has been delay in the payment. Even though the supply has been resumed following discussions with the health secretary, still the payment from many of the hospitals is pending.
“We are not supplying stents and other implants required for the cath lab to Alappuzha Medical College as there has been no assurance from their part on the payment of Rs 13 crore dues,” said Nideesh P K, state secretary of the chamber of distributors.
The chamber of distributors has been giving credit to private hospitals for one month and there no time period is fixed for the government hospitals. “But now we have decided to fix 90 days credit period for the government hospitals because there has been dues since 2011 from a few hospitals,” he said.
All medical college hospitals have given in writing to distributors that the pending arrears will be cleared before March 31. However, a few general and district hospitals have sought time till April 15.
The chamber of distributors has informed the government that they would be forced to stop the supply from April 1 if the dues are not cleared before March 31.
“Such deadlines have been given several times to the hospitals and the government. But all the promises given have not been met. Hence we will be forced to take a decision soon,” said Rajesh Raghavan of the chamber of distributors.
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