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| Thursday, 22 April 2004 |
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Acute shortage of drugs by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi and M.D. Dharmasiri An acute shortage of drugs and medical equipment at the Medical Supply Division (MSD) is threatening to cause a severe crisis in the health sector in the near future even leading to the termination of certain surgeries, Health sources told the Daily News yesterday. According to these sources, there is an existing shortage of nearly 50 pharmaceutical items and surgical equipment." This includes drugs required for treating patients suffering from heart-diseases, diabetes and high blood pressure." Sources also added that the shortages are also reported in items such as surgical needles, X-ray cards, bandages, blood bags and syringes. It is also learnt that the MSD had already informed the Directors of National Hospitals, Teaching Hospitals, General Hospitals and Provincial Health Directors about the existing shortage. When contacted a Senior Official of the Health Ministry said the shortage was due to insufficient allocation of funds to the health sector during the last two years." Since there were insufficient allocation, the shortage accumulated over the last year causing the present problem," he added. According to the official, the Ministry needs around seven billion rupees per annum to maintain a satisfactory free health service." But during the last year budgetary allocations were limited to only Rs. five billion and there were no supplementary estimates too." However, the official revealed that the Ministry is now preparing a Cabinet paper to present a Supplementary Estimate to obtain the required funds to resolve the shortage. |
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