Cancer hospital gets Rs 300M for urgent drug purchases

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry has granted Rs.300 million to the Maharagama Cancer Hospital to purchase essential drugs. Permission was also granted to do local purchasing to meet the demand, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman the drugs will be locally purchased until the ordered drugs reach Sri Lanka.

Sometimes doctors prescribe certain very expensive drugs for cancer patients and most of them cannot afford such drugs. Some such drugs cost over Rs.30,000 per dose. During the meeting a decision was taken to obtain funds from the President's Fund to buy such drugs.

The Ministry is now in the process of networking drug stores in all State hospitals at a cost of Rs.500 million which will prevent future drug shortages. After networking, all data on State drug stores and stocks will be made available online.