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One year to fully address drug shortage

07 Sep 2022

BY Buddhika Samaraweera   Compared to the last few months, the stocks of pharmaceutical drugs and other medical equipment in the country is at a satisfactory level, stated the Ministry of Health, which added however that it will take at least another year for such stocks to return to the standard level maintained before the emergence of the prevailing crisis. Speaking to The Morning, a senior official of the Ministry said: “Compared to the past few months, the stocks of drugs and other medical equipment in the country are at a satisfactory level. Especially now, we are receiving large donations from various countries and other parties. However, there are still difficulties in bringing in drugs and medical equipment, given the crisis.” He further said that the health authorities, including hospitals islandwide, are currently working to maintain patient care services by rationing the use of existing drugs and medical equipment as much as possible. However, he said, it will take at least one year to bring the stocks of drugs and medical equipment to the previous levels. “Currently, dispensing of medicines and conducting medical tests have been rationalised. Previously, many tests were conducted for a particular patient, but only essential tests are conducted now. However, all these things are done in a way that does not have an adverse effect on the patients,” he added. Due to the current shortage of foreign exchange reserves in the country, it has become difficult for the authorities to issue letters of credit for the importation of many essential commodities including pharmaceutical drugs and fuel. As a result, some hospitals in the recent past were running out of supplies, such as drugs and other surgical equipment. There have even been reports of people clashing with health staff in hospitals in recent months due to delays in treating patients due to drug shortages. Meanwhile, Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella recently said that the programme of manufacturing 40% of the drugs needed in Sri Lanka locally is currently being implemented. Under that programme, he said that 20% of such drugs are already being manufactured in the country, adding that this would help to reduce the amount of foreign exchange spent on drug imports.  


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