Karapitiya Cancer Unit suffers dire drug shortage

Resident patients of the Cancer Unit of Galle Karapitiya Teaching Hospital are at a risk on account of a severe shortage of essential cancer drugs for about a month, hospital sources say.

Patients say they have to depend solely on saline, as cancer drugs are generally expensive and their guardians and family members cannot afford to buy them.

Hospital sources say there is an acute shortage of seven main drugs – Irinotecan, Doxorubici, Biomycin, Mycomyce, Solidex, Pomidonates and Nystatin.

However, when contacted, Hospital Director Dr. Jayampathy Senanayake said he had not been informed about such a drug shortage and assured that he would look into the matter and take needed measures to rectify the problem.