A recent meeting at the Ministry of Health, chaired by Health Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala, has raised concerns about a possible shortage of essential medicines in the coming year. Officials reported that while hospitals across Sri Lanka require 850 essential medications, 55 types are currently in short supply.
The shortage has been attributed to the State Pharmaceutical Corporation’s recall of tenders, which has hindered suppliers from delivering medicines efficiently. Additionally, the Ministry of Health indicated that orders for 305 types of drugs from local manufacturers are experiencing delays.
Despite a procurement committee meeting held on the same day, no conclusive decisions were made regarding the procurement of these medications. Health Secretary Mahipala has urged officials to implement measures to prevent a medicine shortage in the first half of next year. Concerns were also raised about specific medications, including amphotericin injections for patients with contact lens issues and sodium bicarbonate for lung disorders, which are currently unavailable in the hospital system.
