Fresh supplies of vaccine flow to hospitals

Chaminda Perera

The brief Pethidine scarcity experienced by State hospitals is now over and the Health Supplies Division is in the process of distributing a fresh stock of the vaccine airlifted from India to hospitals countrywide on an urgent basis, said the Health Care and Nutrition Ministry yesterday.

Health Supplies Division Director Dr. Sarath Weerabandara said the quick import of the new stock of Pethidine was made possible due to the personal intervention of Health Care and Nutrition Minister Niaml Siripala de Silva and Ministry Secretary Dr. Athula Kahandaliyanage.

It was the Minister and his Secretary who obtained the import permit and clearance for the stock following discussions with Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad.

Meanwhile the Health Minister denied UNP Parliamentarian Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene’s claims that he was instrumental in getting this fresh stock from India.

Dr. Jayawardene in a recent press release said the quick delivery of the new stock was a result of discussions he had with the Indian High Commissioner.

The Health Ministry has paid for the fresh imports after following the accepted import procedure.