Sri Lanka: 77 Medicines in Shortage, 400 Procured Under Emergency Purchase

by Sandro Sathyajith 03-09-2023 | 4:54 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st) - According to the Health Ministry, as of now, there is a shortage of 77 varieties of medicines in the health sector. Health Authorities say that 400 types of drugs have been procured under emergency purchasing.

These drugs have also been distributed to hospitals as well. Additional Secretary of the Health Ministry Dr. Saman Ratnayaka says that 378 types of drugs were received under the Indian Credit Line system.

In 2022, 23 million USD worth of drugs were imported to Sri Lanka under the World Bank aid program. According to the Ministry of Health, drugs worth 46.7 million USD were imported to Sri Lanka under the assistance of the Asian Development Bank.