According to the details revealed from the reports of the three-member committee appointed by the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA), the stocks of 91 essential medicines had come to a zero stock level at the Central Medical Store (CMS) by the end of last week.

Addressing the media, GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge said the report of this committee confirmed that the information that has been disclosed to the country so far is the reality of the earth in a more serious manner.

There is a very serious situation in terms of maintaining the required optimal stocks in the terminal as well as in the CMS, Dr. Aluthge said.

"It was reported that the responsible authorities and officers did not take any tangible step until the above number of essential drugs, such as certain drugs used for anaesthesia, anticancer drugs, medicines taken for respiratory illnesses and diseases, medicines given for common heart diseases, and pain killers, have completely gone out of stock," Dr. Aluthge said.

He said the remaining medicine stocks are currently at the level of optimum stocks, which is not even sufficient. Therefore, the doctors were unable to provide medicines that were sufficient to take for a month. Instead, the doctors used to give half of the drugs sufficient only for a week. Then, the patients have to visit the doctors again to take their next half of the drugs, he said.

Moreover, he said the patients have to get their medicine from private pharmacies at a huge cost, and most of the patients have to travel far in search of their medicine.

Considering all the aspects, a solution proposal has been issued for the attention of responsible parties and officers, the doctor added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)