The Ministry of Health has issued a set of guidelines for the external procurement of pharmaceuticals, surgical consumables, and medical testing items required by state health institutions.
The primary objective of these new directives is to ensure the continuous provision of quality healthcare services to patients.
The new instructions mandate that in situations where there is a shortage of medicines and consumables, institutions must procure these items locally, based on the “Guidelines for Local Procurement of Pharmaceutical Items – 2023.”
Key Directives for Institutions:
- Proactive Stock Management: Heads of institutions are advised to closely monitor stock levels and identify potential shortages in advance.
- Daily Reporting System: A daily reporting system must be established to keep consultants and medical officers regularly informed about stock availability.
- External Procurement as Last Resort: External purchases are only recommended if it is confirmed that items are unavailable within the institution for both inpatients and outpatients.
- Patient Consent for External Purchases: Written consent from the patient is required for any external procurement of medicines or consumables.
- External Testing: Special medical tests may only be conducted externally with the approval of the head of the institution, and only if such tests are not available internally.
- Transparency in Donations: Instructions have also been given to establish an open reporting system for any medicines or equipment offered as donations by patients.
These guidelines are intended to be followed by medical officers and heads of institutions to ensure the quality and continuity of public healthcare services in Sri Lanka.
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