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Shortage of over 100 essential drugs in state hospitals – Health Minister
By saman Indrajith
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday told Parliament that there was a shortage of over 100 types of essential drugs in government hospitals.
Rambukwella said that while there were 1,347 types of medicines used by the state-run hospitals and 150 of them were in short supply. The Minister said that the government spent Rs. 50 billion a year on the import of medicines and as per a request made by the Cabinet, the Ministry of Finance had allocated an additional Rs. 40 million as well. “To meet the requisitions by the hospitals, the government spends Rs. 50 billion annually. As a response to our request the Ministry of Finance has allocated additional Rs. 40 million to purchase medicine essentially required,” Health Minister Rambukwella said.