Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijayamuni has revealed shocking price gaps in Sri Lanka’s drug procurement, where a vital Papaverine vaccine for heart surgeries, normally worth Rs. 370, is being purchased for up to Rs. 50,000 amid shortages.
Deputy Health Minister Dr. Hansaka Wijayamuni has disclosed that while the Papaverine vaccine, an essential drug for heart surgeries, can be purchased internationally for about Rs. 370, it is currently being procured locally for an astonishing Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000 due to supply shortages.
Speaking on the issue, the Deputy Minister explained that some companies capable of supplying the drug at the lower price have chosen not to participate in government tenders. He further noted that he is holding direct discussions with foreign governments to ensure the vaccine can be purchased at the fair price in the near future.
For now, however, the government has no option but to acquire the life-saving vaccine from available suppliers at exorbitant prices. The Deputy Minister assured that steps are being taken to normalize the procurement process so that the Papaverine vaccine can be purchased at about Rs. 300 in the future.
The revelation has sparked outrage as Sri Lanka continues to face mounting concerns over transparency in drug procurement, rising medical costs, and the burden on an already strained healthcare system.
