Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has said there are no widespread shortages of essential medicines, responding to reports that cancer patients at the Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama faced difficulties.
Jayatissa said supplies of colostomy bags had been procured but were not accepted after a quality issue was found in the products received. He said hospitals have since been given funds to buy the bags at divisional level, although market prices are high.
He said the Health Ministry also provides funds for hospitals to buy medicines needed in small quantities. Doctors can request unlicensed or temporarily unavailable medicines through the Named Patient Programme. Apeksha Hospital receives medicines worth about Rs. 500 million a year in public donations, according to the minister.
For patients and families, the question is whether treatment and supplies are available when needed. Jayatissa said Apeksha Hospital had issued a clarification, and that Lady Ridgeway Hospital was expected to issue a notice on Tuesday evening.
Hospitals continue to accept donations of medicines and medical supplies, the minister said.
