A US-based charity has donated cancer medicines worth Rs. 330 million to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media in Colombo, the Ministry said on Wednesday.
Latter-day Saint Charities (LDSC) handed over the drugs, which include Oxaliplatin 100mg injections, Abiraterone 250mg tablets and Methotrexate 500mg/5ml injections. Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe received them from LDSC Asia Area Director Lui Wing Chung Mickey and Asia Area Manager Apapohn Pinsakol Saengsin.
The Ministry and the charity also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 600 specialised wheelchairs for rehabilitation hospitals and centres that treat patients with spinal cord injuries. Doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and workshop staff are to be trained in prescribing, using and repairing the chairs, in line with World Health Organization guidelines.
The Ministry said LDSC gave 570 wheelchairs in 2023 and has donated cancer medicines worth about US$ 2 million (Rs. 660 million) over the past two years.
Dr. Jasinghe presented the charity’s Asia Area Director with a Certificate of Appreciation arranged by Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa.
