4 June 2022 12:00 am Views - 81
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the relevant officials to release Rs. 1.8 billion from COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund to import essential medicines, a statement from his office said.
These funds were received from donors to control the Coronavirus Disease. The President said that the money could be used for health needs as the COVID-19 pandemic is now under control.
234 types of medicines required for hospitals are manufactured locally. Drug prices continue to increase in the world market sharply. In view of this situation, the President pointed out the possibility of rapidly increasing the local pharmaceutical manufacturing and obtaining the necessary raw materials in this regard under Indian credit line.
The President made these remarks at a discussion held at the President’s House in Colombo, yesterday regarding matters of urgent concern in the field of the health sector.
There are 12 investors in the pharmaceutical sector in Oyamaduwa and Millewa areas in Horana.
The production in those factories is expected to begin in the next few months and has the potential to produce more than 200 types of drugs in these regions, the officials said.
‘The Ministry of Samurdhi and Education is planning to provide a nutritious meal to primary school children and pregnant mothers’, the President further said.
The importation of medicines and medical equipment is being funded from several sources. It is planned to allocate the required funds from the proposed budget as well.