• 152 Divisional Secretariat Divisions across 20 districts affected; over 78,000 displaced
• More than 100 essential medicines in short supply

As floodwaters continue to inundate large parts of the country, the storm-hit communities are facing a second, quieter emergency: a severe shortage of more than 100 essential medicines.

What began as a national supply issue has now become critical in areas struggling with the effects of Cyclonic Storm Ditwah.

With 152 Divisional Secretariat Divisions across 20 districts affected and over 78,000 people displaced, temporary shelters and flooded hospitals are now the only points of medical care for thousands. Many of these centres report dwindling stocks of basic treatments – antibiotics, pain relief, chronic disease medication, and supplies needed to manage infections and injuries linked to the disaster.

Hospitals in inundated regions are operating under immense pressure, with limited access to roads and transport routes slowing the arrival of emergency medical deliveries. In several districts, routine services have been disrupted, and clinics that once supported chronic patients remain cut off by rising waters.

Communities reliant on daily medication – particularly those managing diabetes, heart conditions, respiratory illnesses, or hypertension – are now at heightened risk. Many residents have fled their homes without their medication, and with pharmacies closed or inaccessible in submerged towns, there is growing concern about the potential rise in untreated conditions.

Heavy rain exceeding 200 mm in multiple provinces and strong winds gusting up to 90 kmph continue to hamper relief efforts. As weather conditions worsen, the uncertainty surrounding medical supplies adds another layer of strain to already-stressed communities.

For those displaced and waiting in shelters, the question is no longer when the floods will recede, but whether essential medicines will reach them in time to prevent the crisis from deepening further.

Health supply crisis

Sri Lanka’s health system was already under strain due to a severe shortage of essential medicines when Cyclone Ditwah made landfall, raising concerns over access to critical care for affected communities.

According to the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), hospitals across the country – both State and private – had been reporting shortages of life-saving medicines, including antibiotics, painkillers, insulin, and treatments for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and psychiatric illnesses. Reports indicated that even basic medical supplies, such as blood glucose test strips and respiratory medications, were in short supply.

The shortage stems from procurement delays in 2024, when the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) reportedly failed to replenish stockpiles adequately. By 2025, many hospitals were struggling to maintain routine services, with some forced to postpone surgeries, suspend laboratory tests, or ask patients to purchase medicines privately – a challenge for low-income families.

Health officials have warned that the arrival of Cyclone Ditwah could exacerbate the crisis. Flooded roads, inundated hospitals, and disrupted supply chains risk making it even more difficult for disaster-affected communities to access essential medicines. 

Observers note that while the medicine shortage existed prior to the storm, the cyclone has heightened the vulnerability of tens of thousands who depend on public healthcare services for chronic care and emergency treatment.

The Ministry of Health has since mobilised medical staff, emergency supplies, and relief efforts to mitigate the impact, but authorities stress that ongoing monitoring and rapid procurement remain crucial to ensure adequate care during the post-flood period.

Political dispute

As hospitals in flood-affected districts struggle to cope with rising patient numbers following Cyclone Ditwah, a national political dispute has intensified over whether Sri Lanka is facing a severe shortage of essential medicines.

The issue surfaced sharply in Parliament last week, with the Opposition claiming that shortages are real and worsening, while the Government insists that the situation is under control.

According to Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Kavinda Jayawardana, the country classifies 862 medicines as essential, and 131 of them are currently in short supply nationwide. 

He added that the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) itself was short of 218 medicines and that 26 diagnostic tests had reportedly been suspended at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) in Colombo due to supply gaps. Dr. Jayawardana warned that these ongoing shortages, coupled with delays in providing vehicles and other allowances, were accelerating the migration of doctors.

The Government has rejected these claims. Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Hansaka Wijemuni dismissed the Opposition’s figures as inaccurate and based on documents he said were partly false. 

The Deputy Minister maintained that the ministry was already addressing the gaps and insisted that no such widespread shortages appeared in the official system. Dr. Wijemuni also noted that staff attached to procurement agencies such as the SPC, National Medicines Regulatory Authority, and MSD had faced threats, urging MPs to avoid naming officials in Parliament.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, however, maintained that shortages were visible within key hospitals. He pointed to official notices at the NHSL listing suspended scans and laboratory tests, arguing that these disruptions contradicted the Government’s claims of stability.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa also highlighted concerns about the medical sector, saying a growing number of doctors intended to migrate, partly due to unfulfilled promises on vehicle permits and allowances. He questioned why, despite claimed Government savings and increased revenue, State sector professionals, including doctors, had not received the support they had been promised.

The debate also reopened scrutiny of past administrations. National People’s Power (NPP) MP Dr. Sandaruwan Madarasinghe cited the case of the Intensive Care Unit at the Tangalle Hospital – opened in 2009 and now in poor condition – as evidence of long-standing mismanagement in the health sector.

Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa firmly denied the existence of a severe shortage, arguing that many of the documents presented by the Opposition lacked verifiable sources. He said the ministry currently had more supplies of certain medicines than the Opposition claimed were missing. 

Dr. Jayatissa also emphasised that the Government had reduced the prices of 350 medicines, with plans to reduce prices of 250 more, describing it as the largest price reduction initiative in the country’s history.

The political back-and-forth comes at a time when hospitals in flood-affected regions – already strained by damaged facilities, disrupted transport, and increased patient loads – report practical challenges in managing essential care. 

According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), concerns continue to grow about whether existing supply pressures could deepen the difficulty faced by displaced communities seeking medical treatment.

Cyclone Ditwah

Cyclonic Storm Ditwah, which formed in the Bay of Bengal, brought severe rainfall and strong winds to Sri Lanka, causing widespread disruption across the island. The storm’s centre, which was approximately 50 km south of Trincomalee and moving north-northwestwards, affected multiple provinces with heavy showers and gusty winds.

The impact has been severe. According to the DMC, as of yesterday (29) 2 p.m., 78,010 people from 22,212 families have been displaced, while 132 deaths and 176 missing persons have been reported. Large areas, including hospitals, primary healthcare centres, and residential communities, have been inundated, disrupting essential services and placing people at significant risk.

The floods triggered by the storm not only displaced tens of thousands of people but also affected essential services such as healthcare, transportation, and supply chains. Hospitals in affected districts faced disruptions, while road closures and inundated infrastructure delayed relief efforts. Emergency responders have been working to evacuate affected communities and deliver food, clean water, and medical assistance to those stranded.

Authorities have warned that the greatest health risks would arise after floodwaters recede, when waterborne diseases such as cholera, dengue, and leptospirosis are most likely to spread. 

Disaster-affected communities

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, the GMOA, the largest trade union representing medical officers, acknowledged that a number of complaints had been recorded from hospitals across the country regarding shortages of essential medicines.

GMOA Spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said: “Our medical officers are currently managing the situation. We are currently engaged in trade union action, but the action doesn’t affect disaster and emergency services. A number of medical officers as well as hospitals have also been affected, and we are in the process of gathering information.”

According to Dr. Wijesinghe, the period of greatest concern is not during the height of flooding but when the floodwaters start to recede. “This is the point when the most basic medicines are required, largely to prevent the spread of diseases, as the flooding has affected a number of areas around the country. The supply of these essential medicines to hospitals in need is critical,” he added.

As learnt by The Sunday Morning, a special meeting had been convened on Friday morning by Ministry of Health Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe. The meeting was attended by all provincial health directors and heads of relevant health departments. During the meeting, Dr. Jasinghe instructed authorities to expedite procurement processes required to address any prevailing shortages and ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential medicines.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Health Ministry Director of Primary Care Services Dr. Sarathchandra Kumarawansa said the ministry was closely monitoring the situation. He noted that except for a few isolated incidents reported from the Badulla Hospital and a small number of other inundated facilities, the overall situation in the public health sector remained under control as of Friday morning.

Dr. Kumarawansa further emphasised that all essential medicines required to support primary care services during the disaster were currently available. He confirmed that the necessary medical staff and medicines had already been deployed to the areas that required them the most.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Disaster Preparedness and Response Division National Coordinator Dr. Samiddhi Samarakoon confirmed that the situation was currently under control as of Friday afternoon, adding that all required medicines and equipment were available locally. She stated that there was no immediate need to seek foreign assistance.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has requested a comprehensive list of essential medicines needed for the disaster-affected population, and the Ministry of Health is in the process of compiling the necessary requirements. According to Dr. Samarakoon, the Health Ministry Secretary had reiterated his instructions to health authorities to expedite all necessary procurements to ensure the continuity of health services during this emergency.

“According to the Department of Meteorology, the country’s weather conditions are expected to improve by Saturday (29) evening. Our main concern has been the western region, where floodwater levels are expected to increase,” Dr. Samarakoon explained. 

She added that the medicines required to manage the post-disaster situation, particularly those needed to control the spread of waterborne diseases, were currently available within the country.