In view of the current dollar crisis in the country, we are geared to minimise inconveniences of patients by managing the medicines and medical supplies, Medical Supplies Deputy Director General (DDG) Dr. D. R. K. Herath said.
He was speaking at a media briefing held at the Health Ministry yesterday (13).
Dr. Herath further said that the Medical Supplies Department is currently providing a better service by coordinating both the patients’ side and the supply side.
He said that Sri Lanka’s needed medicines are obtained through various methods, but the supplies are imported from abroad and a very small amount of medicines like 20 percent are produced locally.
He said that the economic situation in the country and the dollar problem in the past few days had affected suppliers to some extent, where the supply network was slightly different from the normal system and there were some disturbances.
Dr. Herath recalled that as another supplier, the State Pharmaceutical Corporation manufactures and supplies certain drugs locally. He also mentioned that the company also had to face the problem of importing raw materials for the manufacture of medicines.
He said that the supply will also be hampered to some extent and this issue will also affect local manufacturers who supply medicines directly.
He said that although the Health Ministry expected to receive the supplies, there has been some delay in the supplies and while managing the medicines received by the patients, sometimes it is not possible to send them as usual and sometimes there are shortages.
Dr. Herath said that a facility has been provided to contact the hospital directors and a hotline number 1999 has been introduced and if there is a problem with any medicine, one can call that number and said that every possible effort will be made by the department to provide that medicine.
The Deputy Director General of Medical Supply Division said that the patient’s side is constantly coordinated and managed, that in the event of such a disaster, he discusses with the top officials of the Health Ministry of Health three to four times a week, and that the decisions to be held in review meetings are taken very quickly. He said that they always try to procure medicines.
He said that the international community, aware of the current situation in the country, is helping by donating food, medicine and money, and the Health Ministry Secretary is managing the donations. Ridgeway Children’s Hospital Dr.Santhushita Senapathi, who said that 900 medicines are mainly needed as the children of Ridgway Children’s Hospital are being treated for epilepsy, 90 percent of which will be provided by the Medical Supplies Department, and recalled that donors have given a lot of support in purchasing medicines.
Dr. Aruna Jayasekara, Director of the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital said drugs will be provided to the Hospital from the Medical Supplies Department and that local hospitals of the Health Ministry will be given the opportunity to purchase drugs. Health Ministry Secretary Janaka Sri Chandragupta and the Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath were present.
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