Mangaluru/Udupi— A severe shortage of essential medicines has crippled services at Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) hospitals and dispensaries across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, putting thousands of patients—especially from the working class—at serious risk.
Over the past few weeks, critical drugs for chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions have reportedly been missing from ESI shelves. Many patients visiting these government-run centres have been forced to buy medicines from private pharmacies, leading to financial strain.
The main ESI hospital in Mangaluru, located near Shivbagh, and its satellite dispensaries in Puttur, Kulai, Panambur, Kadri, Bejai, Morgan’s Gate, Manipal, Karkala, and Kundapur, are all affected. Patients visiting these centres are frequently met with a disheartening message: “stock unavailable.”
An official at the Mangaluru ESI Hospital has acknowledged the ongoing shortage.
The situation in Sullia is especially dire. For nearly two and a half months, its ESI dispensary has received no new stock—even basic medications for common ailments remain out of reach. Despite earlier receiving 3,000 different types of medicines annually, supply has completely stalled. A requisition for over 100 essential drugs remains pending.
The arrival of monsoon has further complicated matters, with rising cases of fever, cold, and seasonal illnesses—yet not even general tablets or syrups are available at some centres.
Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad stated that his department had not been officially informed of the shortage but promised to investigate. Dakshina Kannada MP Brijesh Chowta also assured swift intervention.