- Anaesthetic used in surgeries and ICU sedation in limited supply
- New stocks expected by mid-January, high-demand hospitals face challenges
The Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) has warned the state health sector could face a shortage of propofol injection, a powerful, short-acting intravenous anesthetic and sedative.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, MCPA President Dr Chamal Sanjeeva said yesterday (28) that the drug, which is widely used for major surgeries across hospitals in the country, was in low supply at both hospitals and the Medical Supplies Division (MSD). He cautioned that unless fresh stocks arrive quickly, hospitals could struggle to continue major surgical procedures and urged the Ministry of Health to take urgent action.
He noted that although other anaesthetic drugs are available, they do not provide the same effectiveness or low rate of adverse reactions, making propofol the preferred choice for doctors. He added the Government Medical Pharmacists’ Association (GMPA) had recently raised concerns about a potential severe drug shortage.
Meanwhile, when contacted by The Daily Morning, the All Ceylon Government Pharmacists’ Association (ACGPA) Chairman Chalith Amaradivakara said that a new stock of propofol for 2026 is expected at the MSD by mid-January, 2026. He added that, according to the relevant official website, there was sporadic availability of the drug in some state hospitals, including the Teaching Hospitals in Badulla and Jaffna, and the District General Hospitals in Hambantota and Negombo. At present, the state health service has more than 9,200 vials of 50 ml and over 27,000 vials of 20 ml propofol injection.
He also acknowledged the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) in Colombo is facing a shortage due to high demand, as the drug is also used to sedate mechanically ventilated adult patients in intensive care units. He said that the Health Ministry has allowed hospitals to make local purchases when needed. “We have had to borrow from other hospitals where the demand was lower. Until the MSD receives the new stock, the NHSL has been forced to procure propofol injection locally. Purchase orders have already been placed.”
When contacted by The Daily Morning, Director of the MSD, Dr Dedunu Dias said that he was not authorised to comment to the media. Several attempts to contact the Deputy Director General (DDG) of the MSD, Dr Lakshman Edirisinghe, and the Director General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena, were unsuccessful.