Shot in the arm for NCD patients
Ridma DISSANAYAKE
The Health Ministry has taken measures to make available an
uninterrupted supply of 16 varieties of medicines and drugs essential
for patients with Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena informed ministry officials to
provide the medicine to Healthy Lifestyle Clinic Centres islandwide
under the purview of Primary Health Centres. NCDs have become the number
one killer in Sri Lanka.
The Health Ministry has taken measures to establish Healthy Lifestyle
Clinic Centres affiliated to Primary Health Centres to treat patients
with NCDs. Five hundred and fifty six Healthy Lifestyle Centres have
been established and another 250 centres are being set up, Health
Ministry Additional Secretary Dr Palitha Mahipala said.
The centres will be provided instructions about exercises, diet
patterns and medicine to patients and these will help identify NCD
patients as well, he said.
Adrenaline tartrate 0.1 percent injection 01 ml Ampoule, Aspirin
tablet 100 mg, Atenolol tablet 50 mg, Atorvastatin tablet 10 mg,
Beclometasone diproprionate inhaler-50 mcg metered dose, 200 dose unit
MDI dry powder capsule for breath induced device,100 mcg DPI and 200 mcg
DPI, Chiorpheniramine (Chlorphenamine)-injection 10 mg in 01 ml ampoule
tablet 04 mg, Enalapril Maleate tablet 5 mg, Frusemide-injection 20 mg
in 02 ml Ampoule tablet 40 mg (Furosemide), Glibenciamide tablet 05 mg,
Glyceryt trinitrate tablet 0.5 mg Sub lingual, Hydrochlorothiazide
tablet 25 mg, Hydrocortisone hemisuccinate injection 100mg vial,
Metformin tablet 500 mg and 850 mg, Nifedipine Slow Release tablet 20
mg, Salbutamol-respiratory solution 0.5 percent in 10 ml bottle tablet
02 mg and 04 mg and Theophylline Slow Released tablet have been
identified essential medicines for patients with NCD.
The list of medicine have been prepared on the direction of the World
Health Organization (WHO), Association of the Specialist Doctors of
Physical Diseases, Association of the Specialist Doctors of Child
Diseases and Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA). Arrangements have
been made to provide the medicine to patients with NCDs. These will be
provided at Healthy Life Style Clinic Centres free of charge,
Dr.Mahipala said. |
