Health Ministry acknowledges medicine shortage

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Government Information Department quoting the Health Ministry said that there is a shortage of some drugs and equipment in certain Government hospitals, and plans are afoot to manage the shortage and ensure an uninterrupted supply of drugs and equipment.

A shortage of supply of certain drugs occurred due to the delay in opening Letters of Credit in time amid the difficulty in finding foreign currency, it added noting that several solutions have been identified to that effect, and they are being implemented.

One of them is to open Letters of Credit under the Indian Credit line facility and order drugs and equipment.

The second is the US$10 million fund received from the World Bank to buy drugs.

In addition, the Ministry has started discussions with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

At the same time, a request has been made to international agencies, foreign nationals, and Sri Lankan expatriates to make donations or provide essential drugs.

The Ministry states that it has already received positive responses in that regard.