170 medicines varieties in short-supply – Health Ministry

The Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry of Health said that around 170 varieties of medicines are currently in short-supply.

Of them, an essential medicine used in the treatment of wheeze and asthma has not been available for three months now with no supplier coming forward for registration, Deputy Director General of Medical Supplies Dr. G. Wijesuriya said before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) in Parliament.

Giving statistics, Dr. Wejesuriya said that out of the 862 varieties of medicines required, there is a shortage of around 170 of them due to various reasons.

Thirty-seven of them don’t have a single supplier registered, he said.

For 60-odd others, there is just one supplier.

He also explained in detail the shortcomings on the part of the State Pharmaceutical Corporation and the National Medicine Regulatory Authority with regard to medicines purchases.