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Pharmaceutical shortage: President receives recommendations

10 Sep 2022

By Maneesha Dullewe   The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has presented comprehensive recommendations to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, outlining the causes of the ongoing medicine shortages and measures to address the issue.  Speaking to The Sunday Morning, GMOA Spokesperson Dr. Vasan Ratnasingam said they had identified the lack of a unified message from the Government regarding the shortage. “We pointed out that officials had issued contradictory messages on the prevailing shortages. We have experienced shortages of almost all drugs in district hospitals and major hospitals. We have handed over recommendations to mitigate this.”  A primary cause of the shortage, as pointed out by the GMOA, is the lack of coordination between the Medical Supplies Division (MSD), State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC), State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation, and the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).  “This lack of coordination has caused the shortage of drugs, medical equipment, and surgical consumables. The President has issued directives to immediately rectify these inefficiencies,” Dr. Ratnasingam shared.  Another issue identified by the GMOA was that while there should be a minimum of three-months’ worth of medicine stocks at the MSD, the present stocks were only sufficient for two weeks. Moreover, some drugs are not in stocending.  Another concern was the lack of action taken against officials involved in the corruption and misuse of Government funds in relation to drugs purchases and the GMOA has urged the initiation of immediate inquiries. Further, the GMOA has noted that the Government should provide certain concessions in medicine prices.  Despite the country having received donations to address the medicine shortage, the lack of coordination between the Health Ministry, Customs, and donors has ensured that drugs are not distributed properly.  “The President instructed Ministry officials to immediately formulate a coordinating centre and appoint officials to coordinate drug donations,” Dr. Ratnasingam revealed.  The GMOA has also identified that 40% of funds spent on medicines are being spent on anti-cancer drugs.  Attempts to contact Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella regarding the recommendations failed. k at all. Furthermore, drugs are not being distributed properly to regional institutions due to transport issues.  The GMOA has also noted that the procurement of drugs is not taking place in a timely manner, compelling the Health Ministry to make emergency purchases, in turn driving up prices and causing unnecessary State sp

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