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Warning about 80 essential drugs shortage in February

10 Jan 2022

BY Buddhika Samaraweera The College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS) has warned of a shortage of about 80 types of essential medical drugs in the near future due to the non-issuance of letters of credit (LCs) for the purchase of drugs relevant to the annual drug estimates for 2022. Speaking to The Morning yesterday (10), CMLS President Ravi Kumudesh claimed that a number of drugs such as those for cancers, kidney diseases, heart diseases, paediatric drugs, and antibiotics would be in short supply in the near future. Noting that the drug estimates for the coming year are usually prepared in January of the previous year, he said that purchases of such would commence from August after the completion of the relevant tender procedure. “After issuing LCs to the companies selected for the importation, it takes four months to import the drugs. Thereafter, the imported drugs are stored in the country by January,” he said. However, he said that the process of ordering essential drugs for this year has already been delayed by about four months due to the non-issuance of LCs. “Had it not been for the unexpected surplus of drugs due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation, there would have been a severe shortage of drugs in the country as of now. If there is no proper management in the future in this regard, a severe shortage of drugs in the country in another month cannot be avoided,” warned Kumudesh. He further claimed that considering the data and plans presented by the Health Ministry and the Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals State Ministry, it is doubtful whether they are acting with due understanding concerning this crisis situation. He added that they appear to be afraid to present accurate data on the matter. “At least $ 40 million is needed in order to solve this issue, but the sum of $ 5 million the Government has agreed to provide is not even enough to import a single drug. In such a situation, it is surprising that the Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals State Ministry has been quick enough to declare that the said amount of money could solve this issue,” he further alleged. Therefore, Kumudesh emphasised that the immediate responsibility of the Government at this juncture is to realise the nature of the issue and to take realistic action to prevent a shortage of drugs, without further delaying the plans that should have been made four months ago. Production, Supply, and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals State Ministry Secretary Dr. S.K. Rathnayake was not available for comment. However, Dr. Rathnayake told The Morning on 16 December 2021 that Sri Lanka is currently in possession of essential drugs which are sufficient for six months, despite any foreign exchange issues. While admitting that there are certain issues with regard to the purchase of pharmaceuticals given the shortage of foreign exchange reserves in the country, he said, however, that such issues would be addressed with the said State Ministry’s intervention.  “At present, the banks don’t issue LCs all at once as they did before. We, as the State Ministry, are now in discussions with the Treasury and are making the necessary arrangements. There is no such serious issue yet. When there are minor issues, the State Ministry intervenes,” he added. 


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