Congress MP Jebi Mather Hisham on Thursday launched a blistering attack on the Kerala Drug Control Department in the Rajya Sabha, claiming that recent raids across the state have revealed a spate of fake and substandard drugs in the market, prompting a sharp rebuttal from CPI(M) MP John Brittas.
Highlighting the issue during Zero Hour, Ms. Hisham said raids conducted in Kozhikode, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram “revealed the shocking truth” about the extent of fake drugs circulating in Kerala’s pharmaceutical market.
“This is not a small lapse. These raids expose the utter failure and shameful inefficiency of the state drug control department. Its negligence has allowed an unregulated network of manufacturers and marketing companies to push substandard drugs from outside Kerala,” the Congress MP said.
While Ms. Hisham acknowledged that the problem goes beyond Kerala and there is an “alarming rise in fake drugs across the country,” she focused her criticism on what she called the state government’s failure to control the menace.
The congressman also drew attention to serious deficiencies in the state’s health infrastructure. She quoted Harris, a doctor attached to the Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, who was allegedly forced to publicly reveal the shortage of basic surgical instruments.
“Surgeries are being postponed indefinitely. Operating theaters remain idle due to lack of maintenance and supplies,” Ms Hisham said.
She claimed doctors’ concerns were repeatedly ignored, forcing patients to buy surgical items out of pocket. “This is not an administrative or systemic error. This is complete mismanagement,” she charged.
Ms. Hisham also referred to the tragic building collapse at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kottayam that claimed the life of a woman, describing it as a “painful symbol of the collapse of the health system” under the Left Democratic Front government. When she started appointing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Speaker intervened.
The Congress MP urged the central government to order the Central Drug Standards Organization to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the drug control department in Kerala “to restore transparency and ensure the safety and quality of medicines across the state”.
Her remarks drew an immediate protest from CPI(M) MP John Brittas, who raised a point of order under Article 258. “No member can mislead the House. All fake drugs were manufactured elsewhere and brought to Kerala,” Brittas said, praising the state government’s effectiveness in detecting fake drugs.
Mr Brittas objected to what he called “nasty abuse” of the Chief Minister and demanded that the remarks be stricken from the record. “Please delete it,” he told the chairman.
The Speaker assured the House: “I will look into it.”
Published – 11 Dec 2025 18:59 IST
